AttributeError in errors.py when string response received instead of Response object

Author: jacobhessterCreated Nov 10, 2024Updated Apr 8, 2025

LabelsUnconfirmed Bug

Summary

When a string is received as a response instead of a Response object, the error handling in tweepy/errors.py fails with an AttributeError. The current error handling assumes if response.status_code fails, the response must be an aiohttp.ClientResponse, but it could also be a string.

Reproduction Steps

Initialize tweepy client with a response type:

python

client = tweepy.Client(
    consumer_key="...",
    consumer_secret="...", 
    access_token="...",
    access_token_secret="...",
    return_type=requests.Response
)

Call create_tweet method:

response = client.create_tweet(text="test tweet")

Minimal Reproducible Example

python

import tweepy
import requests

# Initialize client
client = tweepy.Client(
    consumer_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    consumer_secret="YOUR_API_SECRET",
    access_token="YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN", 
    access_token_secret="YOUR_ACCESS_SECRET",
    return_type=requests.Response
)

def test_tweet():
    try:
        # Attempt to create tweet
        response = client.create_tweet(text="Test tweet")
        print(f"Response type: {type(response)}")
        return response
    except AttributeError as e:
        print(f"AttributeError: {str(e)}")
        # Show the actual response type when error occurs
        print(f"Response type when error occurred: {type(response)}")
        raise

if __name__ == "__main__":
    test_tweet()

Expected Results

When an invalid response type (like a string) is received, tweepy should:

Either handle the string response gracefully OR

Raise a clear, informative error message like:

python

TypeError: Expected requests.Response or aiohttp.ClientResponse object, got str

Actual Results

When receiving a string response, the error handling fails with a cascade of confusing AttributeErrors:

python

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "tweepy/errors.py", line 47, in __init__
    status_code = response.status_code                  
AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'status_code'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "...", line ..., in ...
    status_code = response.status                  
AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'status'

### Twitter API Access Plan

Free

### Tweepy Version

4.14.0

### Checklist

- [X] I have searched for duplicate issues.
- [X] If applicable, I have shown the entire traceback.
- [ ] If applicable, I have removed any visible credentials from my code and/or screenshots.

### Additional Context

_No response_

Source: tweepy/tweepy

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