---
name: "error::inode-uprobes"
section: "7stap"
platform: "linux"
package: "systemtap"
version: "5.6-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/error::inode-uprobes"
---

# error::inode-uprobes(7stap)

limitations of inode-uprobes

## NAME

error::inode-uprobes - limitations of inode-uprobes

## DESCRIPTION

The uprobes kernel facility introduced in Linux 3.5 aims to supplant the earlier out-of-tree utrace patch to enable user-space probing.  There have been some functional limitations in inode-uprobes that preclude some systemtap constructs.  Over time, we hope these regressions will be corrected.

- function.return probes

  *process.function().return* probes require "return-probes" or "uretprobes" functionality, which was not implemented in the builtin inode-uprobes until kernel 3.10.  If you cannot upgrade your kernel, consider using *process.statement()* probes placed on source line numbers at the function's return statements.

- function.statement.absolute probes

  In utrace-equipped kernels, systemtap made it possible to address probes by literal addresses in the process virtual memory address space.  The  new inode-uprobes does not have this capability.

## SEE ALSO

```
stap(1),
http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_3.5,
http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/utrace,
error::reporting(7stap)
```