InvalidImageName ☸️ Kubernetes

Pod status InvalidImageName: couldn't parse image reference

The image field in the pod spec isn’t a valid image reference, so the kubelet can’t even try to pull it.

Seen on: Kubernetes

Meaning

Kubernetes rejects references with uppercase letters, spaces, a trailing colon (image: app:), double slashes or unrendered template placeholders (image: {{ .Values.image }}). Helm/Kustomize values that came out empty are the most common cause.

Common causes

  • Empty tag variable producing app: or app:@
  • Uppercase letters or spaces in the name
  • Unrendered template/placeholder in the manifest
  • Protocol prefix (https://) in the image name

⚡ Quick fix

  1. kubectl describe pod to see the exact reference
  2. Fix the image value in values.yaml/kustomization
  3. Render locally and inspect: helm template / kustomize build

Detailed fix by platform

Kubernetes

  1. bash
    kubectl get pod web-0 -o jsonpath='{.spec.containers[*].image}'
helm template ./chart | grep -n 'image:'

How to diagnose

  1. Reference — Exact image string in the pod spec
  2. Templates — Rendered values empty?

🔧 Still not fixed?

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