Reload-license issue

Questions
1

Hi there,
I haven’t found prior questions on this so here goes. A couple of times now, my n8n installation has fallen into this infinite license reload problem.
[Edit: it does not affect webhooks - that was a separate issue I had that is now resolved]

In order to solve it temporarily, I’m forced to do a n8n license:clear, then trigger a rebuild of n8n, then request a new community license key and activate it. However, I’d like to find a permanent solution, or at least find a way to troubleshoot what’s causing it.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

2025-02-28T22:02:00.897Z | debug | [license SDK] Skipping renewal on init because cert was issued less than 24 hours ago or not initialized {"scopes":["license"],"file":"LicenseManager.js","function":"log"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.898Z | debug | License reloaded {"scopes":["license"],"file":"license.js","function":"reload"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.904Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.904Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.904Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.904Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.905Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.905Z | debug | Published pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"publisher.service.js","function":"publishCommand"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.905Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.906Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.907Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.907Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.907Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.908Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.909Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.911Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.912Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.916Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}
2025-02-28T22:02:00.920Z | debug | Received pubsub msg: reload-license {"scopes":["scaling","pubsub"],"msg":"reload-license","channel":"n8n.commands","file":"subscriber.service.js","function":"parseMessage"}

Information on your n8n setup

  • n8n version: Currently rolled back to 1.79.3 (But it happens up through 1.81.0)
  • Database (default: SQLite): Postgres
  • n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main): Queue mode
  • Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app): Kubernetes (GKE)
  • Operating system: Linux
2

hello @KHarv

Am I right that you are using the community version?

4

Hi barn4k,
yes that is correct

5

Additional information:
Redis and Postgres for n8n are running independently on google Memorystore instances.
My theory is (and this could be wrong) that this is happening:

  • A “reload-license” pubsub message is being published
  • Multiple pods receive the message
  • Each pod processes the message and publishes another “reload-license” message
  • This creates a feedback loop where the message keeps circulating

However, I have no idea how to prevent this.

6

For reference, I upgraded to 1.81.4 and still encounter this problem.

7

If I clear the license, the reload-license issue doesnt occur. So this is only present when I attempt to use professional features.

8

Can you please elaborate more about that? Community version doesn’t have any paid features

9

Yes, if you activate a license here it unlocks certain paid features

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10

That’s in settings BTW

12

I see also such messages, but they do not interfere with any active workflows or webhooks…

1 Like
13

Ok thank you for confirming that. I did have separate issues leading to the webhook problem.

1 Like
14

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