How to fix 0LP01: invalid_grant_operation in PostgreSQL

PostgreSQLINTERMEDIATEMEDIUMUpdated Dec 29, 2025· 149 views

PostgreSQL error 0LP01 occurs when attempting an invalid GRANT operation, such as granting privileges you don't own or granting a role to itself. Verify ownership of the object, check user privileges, and ensure correct GRANT syntax to resolve this.

Quick fix

Fixes 0LP01

SELECT schemaname, tablename, tableowner FROM pg_tables WHERE tablename = 'your_table';
SELECT datname, spcname FROM pg_database JOIN pg_tablespace ON pg_database.spcname = pg_tablespace.spcname WHERE datname = 'your_database';
  1. Verify you own the object or have grant permissions
  2. Check your current privileges on the object
  3. Do not grant a role to itself
  4. Use correct GRANT syntax for the object type
postgresql — error
SELECT schemaname, tablename, tableowner FROM pg_tables WHERE tablename = 'your_table';
SELECT datname, spcname FROM pg_database JOIN pg_tablespace ON pg_database.spcname = pg_tablespace.spcname WHERE datname = 'your_database';
0LP01: invalid_grant_operation

What this error means

Error 0LP01 indicates an invalid GRANT or REVOKE operation in PostgreSQL. This error occurs when attempting to grant or revoke privileges in ways that PostgreSQL doesn't allow. Common scenarios include: attempting to grant privileges on an object you don't own (unless you have WITH GRANT OPTION), trying to grant a role to itself, revoking privileges that were never granted to the target role, or attempting to grant privileges on objects that don't exist. Only the object owner, a superuser, or a role with WITH GRANT OPTION can delegate privileges to other roles.

Typical symptoms

  • GRANT command fails with "invalid_grant_operation" error
  • REVOKE command fails when trying to revoke privileges from a role
  • Error occurs when attempting to grant a role to itself
  • Attempting to grant privileges on a table or database you don't own causes the error
  • Error appears when trying to revoke privileges that were never granted

Common causes

  1. Attempting to GRANT privileges on an object you do not own (without WITH GRANT OPTION)
  2. Trying to grant a role to itself (GRANT role_a TO role_a)
  3. Attempting to revoke privileges from a role that doesn't have those privileges
  4. Circular role membership dependencies or invalid role hierarchy
  5. Using incorrect object names or referencing non-existent tables/schemas
  6. Insufficient permissions to perform the grant operation (not superuser or owner)

How to fix "0LP01: invalid_grant_operation"

1Verify you own the object or have grant permissions

Before granting privileges, ensure you are the owner of the object or have received WITH GRANT OPTION from the owner.

Check object ownership:

sql
SELECT schemaname, tablename, tableowner FROM pg_tables WHERE tablename = 'your_table';
SELECT datname, spcname FROM pg_database JOIN pg_tablespace ON pg_database.spcname = pg_tablespace.spcname WHERE datname = 'your_database';

If you don't own it, contact the owner to grant you WITH GRANT OPTION:

sql
GRANT SELECT ON your_table TO your_user WITH GRANT OPTION;
2Check your current privileges on the object

Verify what privileges you currently have:

sql
SELECT * FROM information_schema.role_table_grants WHERE grantee = 'your_username';
SELECT * FROM information_schema.table_privileges WHERE grantee = 'your_username';

If no privileges appear, you cannot grant privileges on that object. Ask the owner to grant privileges with WITH GRANT OPTION first.

3Do not grant a role to itself

Ensure you are not attempting to grant a role to itself, which is invalid:

sql
-- WRONG - This will fail with 0LP01
GRANT role_a TO role_a;

-- CORRECT - Grant role_a to a different role
GRANT role_a TO role_b;
GRANT role_a TO user_c;
4Use correct GRANT syntax for the object type

Verify you are using the correct GRANT syntax for your object type:

sql
-- For tables
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON TABLE my_table TO my_user;

-- For schemas
GRANT USAGE, CREATE ON SCHEMA my_schema TO my_user;

-- For databases
GRANT CONNECT, CREATE ON DATABASE my_database TO my_user;

-- For sequences
GRANT USAGE, SELECT, UPDATE ON SEQUENCE my_sequence TO my_user;

-- For roles
GRANT role_a TO user_b;
5Verify the object exists before granting privileges

Ensure the table, schema, database, or role you are trying to GRANT on actually exists:

sql
-- Check tables
SELECT * FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_name = 'your_table';

-- Check schemas
SELECT schema_name FROM information_schema.schemata WHERE schema_name = 'your_schema';

-- Check roles
SELECT rolname FROM pg_roles WHERE rolname = 'your_role';

-- Check if the object exists and you have any access
SELECT has_table_privilege('your_user', 'your_schema.your_table', 'SELECT');
6Use a superuser if necessary

If you are unable to grant privileges due to ownership restrictions, ask a superuser to perform the operation:

sql
SU postgres
psql -d your_database -c "GRANT SELECT ON your_table TO my_user;"

Superusers can grant any privileges on any object. However, in production environments, it's better to establish proper ownership and WITH GRANT OPTION chains.

Advanced notes

Role Ownership and WITH GRANT OPTION: In PostgreSQL, privilege delegation follows a strict ownership model. Only the object owner can grant privileges unless they explicitly grant WITH GRANT OPTION to another role. When a non-owner with WITH GRANT OPTION grants privileges, those privileges are recorded as granted by the original owner, not the intermediate grantor. This maintains the privilege chain. Circular role dependencies are also forbidden—PostgreSQL will reject attempts to create circular role memberships to prevent confusion in permission hierarchies. When working with complex permission schemes, use the pg_auth_members table to audit role memberships and the information_schema.table_privileges view to track all granted privileges. In PostgreSQL 15+, pay special attention to public schema permissions, which have been restricted by default.

Frequently asked questions

What does "0LP01" mean?
Error 0LP01 indicates an invalid GRANT or REVOKE operation in PostgreSQL. This error occurs when attempting to grant or revoke privileges in ways that PostgreSQL doesn't allow. Common scenarios include: attempting to grant privileges on an object you don't own (unless you have WITH GRANT OPTION), trying to grant a role to itself, revoking privileges that were never granted to the target role, or attempting to grant privileges on objects that don't exist.
How do I fix "0LP01"?
PostgreSQL error 0LP01 occurs when attempting an invalid GRANT operation, such as granting privileges you don't own or granting a role to itself. Verify ownership of the object, check user privileges, and ensure correct GRANT syntax to resolve this.
What causes "0LP01"?
Attempting to GRANT privileges on an object you do not own (without WITH GRANT OPTION) Trying to grant a role to itself (GRANT role_a TO role_a) Attempting to revoke privileges from a role that doesn't have those privileges
Is the "0LP01" error serious?
It is a medium-severity error — more of a blocker than a risk. The steps above resolve it.

Official resources & further reading