# NousResearch/hermes-agent · npm global root missing breaks bundled npm self-install

## Open now

- 1 issue, 1 PR open on GitHub.
- #125215: npm self-install exits 254 (ENOENT lstat <prefix>/lib) with Node's bundled npm >= 11.19 — blocks hermes update entirely
- PR #125228: fix(pm): pre-create the npm global root before the self-install

Bundled npm versions 11.19 and above fail to self-install with an ENOENT lstat error when the npm global root directory does not exist. The associated fixes pre-create that directory before the self-install step.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 1 open issue(s), 0 closed issue(s), 1 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- No fix has been merged to main; one or more PRs were attempted (see below).
- **Recommended:** review the prior/competing PR(s) below. A fix was attempted but not merged; your case may extend or revive that work.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `unresolved`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.67`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Open related issues

- #125215: npm self-install exits 254 (ENOENT lstat <prefix>/lib) with Node's bundled npm >= 11.19 — blocks hermes update entirely

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#125228: fix(pm): pre-create the npm global root before the self-install**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`
  - files: `pm/packages.py`, `tests/pm/test_npm_self_install.py`
- **#132567: fix(pm): pre-create npm global root so bundled npm >= 11.19 self-install works (fixes #125215)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `silent_close`; implication `active`

## Fix status

- No merged fix on record.
- Subsystem: `hermes_cli`