# Get Reference Identity Attribute with manager keyword throws error when identity has no manager

**URL:** <https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536>\
**Category:** SHF Discussion and Questions\
**Tags:** transforms, sailpoint-identity-security\
**Created:** [October 27, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536 "2025-10-27T19:52:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iamology](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/iamology/32/6964_2.png) [@iamology](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/iamology)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/1 "2025-10-27T19:52:57Z")

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I have a transform ([from here](https://developer.sailpoint.com/docs/extensibility/transforms/operations/get-reference-identity-attribute)) that reads a specific attribute from manager’s identity. However, when the identity does not have a manager this transform throws error resulting in identity to have the error and not calculate some other attributes.

I have tried to wrap the transform with firstValid, but this did not help.

Any idea how do I deal with this situation?

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**Author:** ![GOKUL\_ANANTH\_M](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/gokul_ananth_m/32/14416_2.png) [@GOKUL\_ANANTH\_M](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/GOKUL_ANANTH_M)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/2 "2025-10-27T20:19:55Z")

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Hi @iamology ,

To handle errors in transforms when an identity doesn’t have a manager, specifically for the getReferenceIdentityAttribute transform, you can use the “ignoreErrors” attribute set to true. This allows the transform to continue processing even if an error occurs when trying to access the manager’s attributes.

```json
{
  "attributes": {
    "ignoreErrors": "true",
    "values": [
      {
        "attributes": {
          "name": "Cloud Services Deployment Utility",
          "operation": "getReferenceIdentityAttribute",
          "uid": "manager",
          "attributeName": "email"
        },
        "type": "rule"
      },
      "None"
    ]
  },
  "name": "Get Manager Email Transform",
  "type": "firstValid"
}

```

In this, the transform attempts to get the manager’s email attribute. If the identity doesn’t have a manager or if there’s any other error, it will return “None” as the fallback value. You can replace “None” with any other appropriate fallback value or transform based on your specific requirements.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vkashat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/vkashat/32/9721_2.png) [@vkashat](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/vkashat)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/3 "2025-10-27T20:36:14Z")

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Hi @iamology !

What attribute are you trying to set with the transform? The first valid should have helped, what options did you set if the manager wasn’t valid?

For example if you’re trying to set a manager email, the first valid options could be something like $identity.manager.email then “no-email@domain.com”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sup3rmark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/sup3rmark/32/36229_2.png) [@sup3rmark](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/sup3rmark)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/4 "2025-10-27T20:41:16Z")

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> [@iamology](#):
>
> I have tried to wrap the transform with firstValid, but this did not help.

![bed gf](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/original/3X/8/f/8f142e85e85e17ececf935bada83d49cf57e8f48.webp)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iamology](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/iamology/32/6964_2.png) [@iamology](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/iamology)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/5 "2025-10-27T21:46:41Z")

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Not sure why did the firstValid transform work first time, but it seems to be working now.

Thanks!!!

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/original/2X/f/f2136700ed5e3703e0b85e02f6be799dacca7735.png) [@system](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-reference-identity-attribute-with-manager-keyword-throws-error-when-identity-has-no-manager/186536/6 "2025-12-26T21:47:05Z")

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Closed on December 26, 2025, 9:47pm UTC

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