# Error finding the referenced node

**URL:** <https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** core, node\
**Created:** [18. August 2025 um 07:15 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751 "2025-08-18T07:15:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Emils\_Bisenieks](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/emils_bisenieks/32/20998_2.png) [@Emils\_Bisenieks](https://community.n8n.io/u/Emils_Bisenieks)\
**Post date:** [18. August 2025 um 07:15 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/1 "2025-08-18T07:15:34Z")

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## Describe the problem/error/question

Hello! I will try to describe the error as much as possible.  
What we did was that we made a node run at the start, and THEN we were able to reference that node wherever we want (also in loops).

Something like this - “Get owners“ runs first, and we were able to use the returned data further. For example, in a loop, we dont have to make a call to the Postgres DB every time:

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/original/3X/f/1/f12b8ea1e60a32c7dadb6f881b6c67c93792577e.png)

Now we get an error - **Error finding the referenced node**

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/original/3X/6/2/6272a624f2e59de5f2e0107a7c3caac88f6e9e3d.png)

When I try to find the node, it doesn’t appear in the offered list

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/original/3X/b/3/b35149b58995ef651dc58651b745ae9e6f0a2d6a.png)

## What is the error message (if any)?

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/original/3X/6/2/6272a624f2e59de5f2e0107a7c3caac88f6e9e3d.png)

I think it is something similar to this post:

> [@Cannot assign to read only property 'name' of object 'Error: Error finding the referenced node' when trying to access previous run of the node](http://community.n8n.io/t/cannot-assign-to-read-only-property-name-of-object-error-error-finding-the-referenced-node-when-trying-to-access-previous-run-of-the-node/163204):
>
> Describe the problem/error/question Hello, I have problem since version 1.105 (presumably) that i have code node that needs information from its previous run (its inside of the loop). It was working so far without issues (last run i did was on 30th July], but today when i’ve run it i encounter error Cannot assign to read only property 'name' of object 'Error: Error finding the referenced node' I debugged the problem down to the code: $('Increment invoice nr').all(0,index-1)[0] The node is ca…

Information on your n8n setup

- **n8n version:** Version 1.106.3
- **Database (default: SQLite):** Postgres
- **Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app):** Docker

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**Author:** ![barn4k](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/barn4k/32/8170_2.png) [@barn4k](https://community.n8n.io/u/barn4k)\
**Post date:** [18. August 2025 um 11:09 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/2 "2025-08-18T11:09:23Z")

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hello @Emils_Bisenieks

Nodes should be chained together. You can’t split them to different paths and refer each other between paths. Consider each path as a separate execution.

In your case place the **Merge** node in-between.

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**Author:** ![Emils\_Bisenieks](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/emils_bisenieks/32/20998_2.png) [@Emils\_Bisenieks](https://community.n8n.io/u/Emils_Bisenieks)\
**Post date:** [19. August 2025 um 09:04 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/3 "2025-08-19T09:04:01Z")

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hey @barn4k

My approach worked perfectly for 2 years without problems, but yeah, I will recheck the workflows and do the necessary edits

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**Author:** ![barn4k](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/barn4k/32/8170_2.png) [@barn4k](https://community.n8n.io/u/barn4k)\
**Post date:** [19. August 2025 um 20:52 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/4 "2025-08-19T20:52:55Z")

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The fact that it worked doesn’t mean that it was configured correctly 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![khmuhtadin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/khmuhtadin/32/111661_2.png) [@khmuhtadin](https://community.n8n.io/u/khmuhtadin)\
**Post date:** [20. August 2025 um 03:32 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/5 "2025-08-20T03:32:58Z")

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To reference data from a previous node in n8n, you need to connect (chain) your nodes directly. If you don’t want to chain them, you can store the value in Redis and retrieve it later in an “unchained” node.

Sometimes, even if nodes like Switch or Aggregate are chained, they might not pass the data as expected. In those cases, make sure to enable the “Pass all data” option.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Emils\_Bisenieks](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/emils_bisenieks/32/20998_2.png) [@Emils\_Bisenieks](https://community.n8n.io/u/Emils_Bisenieks)\
**Post date:** [20. August 2025 um 07:47 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/6 "2025-08-20T07:47:52Z")

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Thanks, guys!

Did the necessary edits

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**Author:** ![artemik83](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/artemik83/32/21638_2.png) [@artemik83](https://community.n8n.io/u/artemik83)\
**Post date:** [29. August 2025 um 05:48 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/7 "2025-08-29T05:48:23Z")

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Wait a minute.  
It was extremely convenient and seemed like a feature because the workflows were executed from top to bottom. Most workflows use this feature, so I don’t think it’s just me.  
I hope it bug and will be fixed soon…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Emils\_Bisenieks](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/emils_bisenieks/32/20998_2.png) [@Emils\_Bisenieks](https://community.n8n.io/u/Emils_Bisenieks)\
**Post date:** [29. August 2025 um 08:09 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/8 "2025-08-29T08:09:02Z")

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@artemik83 Yes, I was thinking the same thing

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![barn4k](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/barn4k/32/8170_2.png) [@barn4k](https://community.n8n.io/u/barn4k)\
**Post date:** [29. August 2025 um 21:16 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/9 "2025-08-29T21:16:04Z")

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They are executed from top to bottom (more about the logic here: [Execution order in multi-branch workflows | n8n Docs](https://docs.n8n.io/flow-logic/execution-order/)), but you can’t refer to nodes between branches. You don’t even have an option to select the nodes from another branch in the node’s input.

Like in the example.

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/original/3X/f/4/f4584b558633d9b2429eeae79d4bddb1963cc9ad.png)

The last variable **branch1\_last** will be calculated (if the previous branch is executed), but the second one will always throw an error (and it’s totally logical)

.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![artemik83](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/artemik83/32/21638_2.png) [@artemik83](https://community.n8n.io/u/artemik83)\
**Post date:** [29. August 2025 um 23:28 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/10 "2025-08-29T23:28:38Z")

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I can, and in 1.107.4 this bug fixed and you can refer to any node, which were executed in workflow and it’s super logical.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/system/32/195824_2.png) [@system](https://community.n8n.io/u/system)\
**Post date:** [27. November 2025 um 23:29 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/error-finding-the-referenced-node/170751/11 "2025-11-27T23:29:26Z")

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