---
title: "internal_error error"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/internal_error.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/internal_error"
last_updated: "2026-10-22"
type: "reference"
summary: "HTTP 500 internal_error: An unexpected error occurred. Cause, fix and a curl example."
related: ["https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md", "https://lookvalid.com/docs/quickstart.md"]
---

# internal_error error

HTTP 500 internal_error: An unexpected error occurred. Cause, fix and a curl example.

`internal_error` is returned with HTTP **500**. Retryable: yes. Nothing is charged for this error.

## What it means

An unexpected error occurred.

## Most likely cause

An unexpected fault on the server. It is not caused by your request, and nothing was charged.

## How to fix it

Retry once after a short wait. If it fails again, report the request_id to support. Nothing was charged.

## Example

Keep the `request_id` from the response. If a second attempt after a short wait fails too, send the id to support.

```sh
curl -s -X POST https://YOUR_API_HOST/v1/ip -H "Authorization: Bearer $LOOKVALID_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"ip":"203.0.113.7"}' | jq '.error | {code, request_id}'
```

An error response is one JSON envelope. Branch on `code`, never on the message text. The `message` and `fix` of a real response can be more specific than the defaults shown here.

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "internal_error",
    "message": "An unexpected error occurred.",
    "fix": "Retry once after a short wait. If it fails again, report the request_id to support. Nothing was charged.",
    "docs_url": "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/internal_error",
    "retryable": true,
    "request_id": "req_3fK9pQ2xVb7LmN4sTz8WcA"
  }
}
```

## See also

- [All error codes](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md) with the response envelope.
- [Quickstart](https://lookvalid.com/docs/quickstart.md).
- Quote the `request_id` when you write to [hello@lookvalid.com](mailto:hello@lookvalid.com).

## Related

- [Errors](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md)
- [Quickstart](https://lookvalid.com/docs/quickstart.md)