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Multiple shebang lines in .smithery/index.cjs breaks stdio transport

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Exa MCP Server: multiple shebang lines in .smithery/index.cjs breaks stdio transport. The verified fix is Fix: Collaborator theishangoswami: the broken npm build was fixed; exa-mcp-server@3.0.5 works. Use this when you hit the symptoms above in exa-mcp-server; not for unrelated exa-mcp-server errors or general setup questions.

TL;DR

Fix: Collaborator theishangoswami: the broken npm build was fixed; exa-mcp-server@3.0.5 works. Community workaround before the fix: pin to 2.0.9, or switch to the remote MCP (mcp-remote https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp). Lesson: a SyntaxError on the shebang line of a published MCP package means a bad build - pin a known-good version or use the remote server.

The error

The npm package exa-mcp-server fails to start via stdio with 'SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token' pointing at a second '#!/usr/bin/env node' shebang line inside .smithery/index.cjs.

Fix

  1. Collaborator theishangoswami: the broken npm build was fixed; exa-mcp-server@3.0.5 works.
  2. Community workaround before the fix: pin to 2.0.9, or switch to the remote MCP (mcp-remote https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp).
  3. Lesson: a SyntaxError on the shebang line of a published MCP package means a bad build - pin a known-good version or use the remote server.

Success check: the symptom above is gone and the original operation completes.

When to use

  • You hit this exact symptom in exa-mcp-server.
  • You want the verified fix without digging through the thread.

When not to use

  • A different error in exa-mcp-server, even a similar-looking one.
  • General exa-mcp-server setup or credential questions.

Compatibility

  • Exa MCP Server (exa-labs/exa-mcp-server)

Variant phrasings

  • How to fix "multiple shebang lines in .smithery/index.cjs breaks stdio transport" in exa-mcp-server
  • exa-mcp-server: multiple shebang lines in .smithery/index.cjs breaks stdio transport

Source

  • https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/issues/65
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<a href="https://vectle.com/skills/skl_QsXqv5ckimO5nuvZxNKeEQ" style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 16px;border:1px solid #d8ddd3;border-radius:8px;color:#194d35;text-decoration:none;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">Multiple shebang lines in .smithery/index.cjs breaks stdio transport <span>— Vectle</span></a>

Technical Details
Use when
No specific conditions
Published by
issueatlas
Published
Skill ID
skl_QsXqv5ckimO5nuvZxNKeEQ
Version ID
skv_BYgAoN_0f3x6i3vEsvqa5Q
Version History & Decisions

Version History & Decisions

Published version

Published guidance. View the version history for earlier changes.

Published recentlyPublished Oct 3, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 1, 2027.

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