`podman --remote run --detach-keys=""` reports Error: invalid detach keys: Unknown character: ''

[fujii]

Issue Description

According to the document https://github.com/containers/common/blob/main/docs/containers.conf.5.md, detach keys can be disabled by setting an emtpy string.

Specifying "" disables this feature.

This works as expected for podman run --detach-keys= -it docker.io/library/debian bash.
However, it doesn't work as expected with --remote switch.

$ podman --remote run --detach-keys= -it  docker.io/library/debian bash
Error: invalid detach keys: Unknown character: ''

This problem also happens by adding the following in containers.conf.

[engine]
detach_keys = ""

Steps to reproduce the issue

Steps to reproduce the issue

1. podman --remote run --detach-keys= -it docker.io/library/debian bash

Describe the results you received

Error: invalid detach keys: Unknown character: ''

Describe the results you expected

No error. Detach keys should be disabled.

podman info output

host:
  arch: amd64
  buildahVersion: 1.41.5
  cgroupControllers:
  - cpu
  - io
  - memory
  - pids
  cgroupManager: systemd
  cgroupVersion: v2
  conmon:
    package: conmon-2.1.13-1.fc42.x86_64
    path: /usr/bin/conmon
    version: 'conmon version 2.1.13, commit: '
  cpuUtilization:
    idlePercent: 89.27
    systemPercent: 1.04
    userPercent: 9.7
  cpus: 64
  databaseBackend: sqlite
  distribution:
    distribution: fedora
    variant: workstation
    version: "42"
  eventLogger: journald
  freeLocks: 2041
  hostname: fedora
  idMappings:
    gidmap:
    - container_id: 0
      host_id: 1000
      size: 1
    - container_id: 1
      host_id: 524288
      size: 65536
    uidmap:
    - container_id: 0
      host_id: 1000
      size: 1
    - container_id: 1
      host_id: 524288
      size: 65536
  kernel: 6.17.4-200.fc42.x86_64
  linkmode: dynamic
  logDriver: journald
  memFree: 108940681216
  memTotal: 134870597632
  networkBackend: netavark
  networkBackendInfo:
    backend: netavark
    dns:
      package: aardvark-dns-1.16.0-1.fc42.x86_64
      path: /usr/libexec/podman/aardvark-dns
      version: aardvark-dns 1.16.0
    package: netavark-1.16.1-1.fc42.x86_64
    path: /usr/libexec/podman/netavark
    version: netavark 1.16.1
  ociRuntime:
    name: crun
    package: crun-1.24-1.fc42.x86_64
    path: /usr/bin/crun
    version: |-
      crun version 1.24
      commit: 54693209039e5e04cbe3c8b1cd5fe2301219f0a1
      rundir: /run/user/1000/crun
      spec: 1.0.0
      +SYSTEMD +SELINUX +APPARMOR +CAP +SECCOMP +EBPF +CRIU +LIBKRUN +WASM:wasmedge +YAJL
  os: linux
  pasta:
    executable: /usr/bin/pasta
    package: passt-0^20250919.g623dbf6-1.fc42.x86_64
    version: |
      pasta 0^20250919.g623dbf6-1.fc42.x86_64
      Copyright Red Hat
      GNU General Public License, version 2 or later
        <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html>
      This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
      There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
  remoteSocket:
    exists: true
    path: /run/user/1000/podman/podman.sock
  rootlessNetworkCmd: pasta
  security:
    apparmorEnabled: false
    capabilities: CAP_CHOWN,CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE,CAP_FOWNER,CAP_FSETID,CAP_KILL,CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE,CAP_SETFCAP,CAP_SETGID,CAP_SETPCAP,CAP_SETUID,CAP_SYS_CHROOT
    rootless: true
    seccompEnabled: true
    seccompProfilePath: /usr/share/containers/seccomp.json
    selinuxEnabled: true
  serviceIsRemote: false
  slirp4netns:
    executable: ""
    package: ""
    version: ""
  swapFree: 0
  swapTotal: 0
  uptime: 1h 55m 44.00s (Approximately 0.04 days)
  variant: ""
plugins:
  authorization: null
  log:
  - k8s-file
  - none
  - passthrough
  - journald
  network:
  - bridge
  - macvlan
  - ipvlan
  volume:
  - local
registries:
  search:
  - registry.fedoraproject.org
  - registry.access.redhat.com
  - docker.io
store:
  configFile: /home/fujii/.config/containers/storage.conf
  containerStore:
    number: 7
    paused: 0
    running: 0
    stopped: 7
  graphDriverName: overlay
  graphOptions: {}
  graphRoot: /home/fujii/.local/share/containers/storage
  graphRootAllocated: 1022505254912
  graphRootUsed: 140681408512
  graphStatus:
    Backing Filesystem: btrfs
    Native Overlay Diff: "true"
    Supports d_type: "true"
    Supports shifting: "false"
    Supports volatile: "true"
    Using metacopy: "false"
  imageCopyTmpDir: /var/tmp
  imageStore:
    number: 28
  runRoot: /run/user/1000/containers
  transientStore: false
  volumePath: /home/fujii/.local/share/containers/storage/volumes
version:
  APIVersion: 5.6.2
  BuildOrigin: Fedora Project
  Built: 1759190400
  BuiltTime: Tue Sep 30 09:00:00 2025
  GitCommit: 9dd5e1ed33830612bc200d7a13db00af6ab865a4
  GoVersion: go1.24.7
  Os: linux
  OsArch: linux/amd64
  Version: 5.6.2

Podman in a container

No

Privileged Or Rootless

None

Upstream Latest Release

No

Additional environment details

Additional environment details

Additional information

Additional information like issue happens only occasionally or issue happens with a particular architecture or on a particular setting

[Honny1]

I've found the issue: the binding that creates the remote request doesn't handle empty strings. I'll look into it.

[Luap99]

Looks like there is already #27425

[Honny1]

Thanks, I didn't notice.