The server cannot drop a stored routine, trigger, or event because the object does not exist, the name is ambiguous, or the user lacks privileges.
MySQL Error 1306 ER_SP_DROP_FAILED occurs when the server cannot DROP a stored procedure, function, trigger, or event. Check the routine name, fully qualify it with the database, confirm it exists, and grant or elevate DROP ROUTINE privileges to resolve the issue.
Failed to DROP %s %s
Error 1306 appears when MySQL fails to execute a DROP statement on a stored procedure, function, trigger, or event. The engine raises the generic message "Failed to DROP %s %s" and aborts the statement.
The failure usually stems from referencing a non-existent routine, using the wrong database, or missing privileges.
Fixing the statement quickly restores schema migrations, deployments, and CI pipelines that rely on clean object teardown.
The server checks object existence, name uniqueness, and user rights before removal. Any mismatch stops execution and throws ER_SP_DROP_FAILED.
The error is version-agnostic and appears in MySQL 5.6, 5.7, 8.0, MariaDB, and Percona forks.
Validate the object name with INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES, qualify names with the database, add IF EXISTS to the DROP statement, and ensure the executing account has DROP ROUTINE or SUPER privileges. Use explicit delimiters in scripts to prevent parser confusion.
CI/CD teardown scripts often call DROP PROCEDURE before creation.
Adding IF EXISTS and referencing database.proc_name prevents pipeline breaks. Developers switching schemas can prepend the database name to guarantee the correct routine is targeted.
Privilege gaps on staging servers require GRANT DROP ROUTINE.
Always include IF EXISTS in DROP statements, fully qualify routine names, standardize routine owners with consistent GRANTs, and monitor schema changes with tools like Galaxy to catch missing objects before deployment.
Errors 1304 (ER_SP_ALREADY_EXISTS) and 1044 (ER_DBACCESS_DENIED_ERROR) occur in similar DDL contexts. They can be resolved with existence checks and proper privileges, mirroring the fixes for ER_SP_DROP_FAILED.
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DROPs on procedures or functions that were never created or were already removed trigger the error.
Using USE db_a but attempting to drop a routine that lives in db_b causes a lookup miss.
Accounts without the DROP ROUTINE or SUPER privilege cannot remove stored routines.
Identical routine names in multiple databases confuse the parser unless fully qualified.
Improper delimiter handling around DROP statements leads MySQL to read the command incorrectly and reject it.
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Yes. IF EXISTS suppresses the error when the routine is absent, allowing scripts to continue safely.
No. Triggers require the TRIGGER privilege. ER_SP_DROP_FAILED may still appear if a trigger cannot be dropped.
Staging often runs with stricter privileges or different schemas. Ensure the same grants and routines exist in all environments.
Galaxy’s schema-aware autocomplete shows existing routines, highlights missing objects, and integrates migration previews so you catch drop issues before execution.
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