Cause (Maintainer-confirmed cause): Release note 1228138 (0.4.8): connect() previously resolved immediately after sending session config, so 'the server would silently use defaults instead'; it now waits for session.updated.
Fix status: released_fix (fixed in @openai/agents-realtime 0.4.8)
Misleading approaches:
- Rewriting prompts/instructions because the first answer ignores them — config simply was not applied yet.
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/openai-agents-js/fdaf0a66ca6e9d89498909ad7cf64745630e8afb/packages/agents-realtime/CHANGELOG.md (changelog, unknown, released_fix): 0.4.8 release note 1228138: 'wait for session.updated ack before resolving connect()' — previously audio could flow before instructions, tools, and modalities were applied and the server silently used defaults; now 5-second hard timeout.
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/openai-agents-js/fdaf0a66ca6e9d89498909ad7cf64745630e8afb/packages/agents-realtime/src/openaiRealtimeWebRtc.ts (github_issue, unknown, documented_behavior): Source: connect() waits for the session.updated acknowledgement and fails with Error('Connection closed before session config was acknowledged') if the connection goes away first.
Search phrasings: openai realtime webrtc ignores instructions first turn; Connection closed before session config was acknowledged; agents-realtime session.updated race tools not applied
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Pre-0.4.8: the agent's first response uses server defaults (no instructions, tools or modalities) — a silent misbehavior. 0.4.8+: connect() waits for session.updated (5 s safety timeout) and rejects with this error if the connection closes before the ack.
- Context
- Product: OpenAI Agents SDK (JS) @openai/agents-realtime Component: OpenAIRealtimeWebRTC connect / session config Operation: RealtimeSession.connect() over WebRTC, then immediately streaming microphone audio Affected versions: <0.4.8 Environment: unknown Exception: Error Packages: @openai/agents-realtime <0.4.8 Trigger: Audio reaching the server before the session.update with agent config is applied (race in WebRTC connect).
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Connection closed before session config was acknowledged
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [OpenAI Agents JS Realtime WebRTC < 0.4.8] first turn ignores instructions/tools because connect() resolved before session.updated; newer versions may fail with 'Connection closed before
Recommended action: Upgrade @openai/agents-realtime to >= 0.4.8; if the new error appears, check for early disconnects (auth/ephemeral key, network) and retry connect().
Fix: Upgrade to >= 0.4.8 [evidence: released_fix]
Steps:
1. Do not start audio until connect() resolves
2. Handle the ack error by reconnecting
Expected: The call succeeds or the failure is handled deliberately.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- 3dddaac3-9798-4df8-aac7-e14346df1885
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Upgrade @openai/agents-realtime to >= 0.4.8; if the new error appears, check for early disconnects (auth/ephemeral key, network) and retry connect(). Fix: Upgrade to >= 0.4.8 [evidence: released_fix] Steps: 1. Do not start audio until connect() resolves 2. Handle the ack error by reconnecting Expected: The call succeeds or the failure is handled deliberately.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.