The server cannot find the named prepared statement or cursor you tried to EXECUTE, DEALLOCATE, or DESCRIBE.
PostgreSQL Error 26000 - invalid_sql_statement_name appears when EXECUTE, DEALLOCATE, or DESCRIBE references a prepared statement name that does not exist in the current session. Re-run PREPARE in the same connection or correct the statement name to fix the issue.
PostgreSQL Error 26000
PostgreSQL raises invalid_sql_statement_name (SQLSTATE 26000) when a client tries to EXECUTE, DEALLOCATE, or DESCRIBE a prepared statement name that does not exist in the current session.
The error means the server could not find a matching entry in pg_prepared_statements or the name refers to a cursor created by DECLARE that has already closed.
Most occurrences happen after a PREPARE statement is skipped, fails, or runs in a different connection pool slot, leaving the EXECUTE command unaware of the prepared name.
Using DEALLOCATE or EXECUTE inside stored procedures with dynamic statement names can also trigger the error when the variable resolves to an empty string.
Verify that PREPARE ran successfully on the same session and that its name matches the one supplied to EXECUTE or DEALLOCATE.
Reissue PREPARE if needed.
In pooled environments, use named prepared statements sparingly or switch to parameterized queries without PREPARE to avoid session affinity issues.
Application server reconnects after idle timeout - the new connection has no prepared statements, so EXECUTE fails. Solution: prepare on demand or test existence via pg_prepared_statements.
Batch scripts calling DEALLOCATE ALL at the end of a block may inadvertently remove a later EXECUTE target.
Use transaction scoped cursors or explicit names.
Keep PREPARE and EXECUTE in the same function or script section so statement names live in predictable scope.
Check pg_prepared_statements before executing dynamic SQL in long-running sessions and always deallocate statements once you are finished.
PostgreSQL raises invalid_cursor_name (SQLSTATE 34000) for missing cursors and undefined_table (42P01) for absent relations.
Troubleshoot them by verifying name scope.
Using Galaxy you can search previously run PREPARE calls in query history, preventing mismatched statement names and reducing both errors.
.
Not necessarily. The SQL text may be valid, but PostgreSQL cannot find the prepared statement or cursor name you supplied.
Yes. Many drivers allow you to turn off server-side prepare and rely on client-side parameter binding.
Production setups often use connection pools or statement caching, increasing the chance that PREPARE and EXECUTE land on different sessions.
Galaxy logs every query in the editor, so you can confirm that PREPARE ran before EXECUTE and reuse trusted query snippets without typos.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
