<p>The event scheduler refused to run because its STARTS value is earlier than the current server time.</p>
<p>MySQL Error 1544: ER_EVENT_EXEC_TIME_IN_THE_PAST means the event scheduler was asked to start an event at a past timestamp. Update the STARTS or ON COMPLETION clause to a future time, then enable the event again to resolve the issue.</p>
Event execution time is in the past. Event has been
MySQL raises error 1544 when you create, alter, or enable an EVENT whose next execution time is earlier than the current server time. The scheduler immediately disables the event and returns “Event execution time is in the past.”
This check protects the event scheduler from looping over missed executions. The error appears in MySQL 5.1 and later whenever the STARTS clause or an interval calculation yields a past datetime.
The most common trigger is specifying a static STARTS timestamp that has already passed. Another frequent cause is calculating STARTS with NOW() but running the statement seconds later, causing clock drift. Time zone misconfiguration can also shift the evaluated time into the past.
Altering an existing recurring event without updating LAST_EXECUTED or STARTS may likewise schedule the next run for a past date, provoking the error.
First confirm the server time with SELECT NOW();. Then adjust the event definition so the next execution is in the future. Use STARTS CURRENT_TIMESTAMP + INTERVAL 1 MINUTE or enable ON COMPLETION PRESERVE so MySQL auto-computes the next run.
After modifying the schedule, re-enable the event with ALTER EVENT my_evt ENABLE; and verify status in INFORMATION_SCHEMA.EVENTS.
One-off maintenance events typically fail because the planned date has passed; recreate them with a new STARTS value. Recurring events that rely on AT TIME ZONE conversions often break after daylight-saving shifts; store times in UTC to avoid surprises.
Always calculate STARTS relative to CURRENT_TIMESTAMP. Monitor disabled events with a scheduled check query or use PERFORMANCE_SCHEMA.EVENTS_ERRORS. Store server and application clocks in NTP to prevent drift. Embed ALTER EVENT statements in CI pipelines to auto-bump dates.
ER_EVENT_CANNOT_DELETE (1539) arises when dropping a locked event. ER_EVENT_MODIFY_QUEUE_ERROR (1550) appears if the event queue update fails. Handling them involves unlocking or recreating the event queue similarly to fixing error 1544.
Hard-coded STARTS '2023-12-01 10:00:00' executes in the past after that date.
Server time lags behind NTP, making calculated schedules appear past.
Session time zone differs from system_time_zone, pushing computed time backward.
ALTER EVENT updates body but leaves STARTS unchanged, so next run is already past.
Raised when trying to create an event with a duplicate name.
Occurs if the server cannot delete an event from the queue.
Appears when the event queue fails to update during ALTER EVENT.
Signals storage engine issues preventing event persistence.
No. The scheduler may be ON, but the event remains disabled until its STARTS value is updated to a future time.
Yes. Use ON COMPLETION NOT PRESERVE so MySQL discards past runs and schedules the next occurrence automatically.
Query INFORMATION_SCHEMA.EVENTS where STATUS = 'DISABLED' and LAST_ALTERED reason shows the error.
Galaxy’s editor highlights disabled events, offers AI fixes to bump STARTS, and lets teams endorse the corrected SQL so everyone avoids repeat errors.
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