Resolving Unexpected CIRCLE_PULL_REQUEST Environment Variable in CircleCI main branch Builds

Overview

The CIRCLE_PULL_REQUEST environment variable may occasionally persist in CircleCI main (default) branch builds even after a pull request has been closed. This typically occurs when webhook events fail to notify CircleCI about pull request closures or timeouts.

Prerequisites

• Access to the GitHub repository associated with your CircleCI project.
• Access to CircleCI to view and manage build configurations.

Solution

1. Verify Pull Request Status on GitHub:
   • Check the status of the pull request on GitHub to ensure it is closed. If it remains open, close it manually.
2. Check CircleCI Webhook Updates:
   • Ensure that GitHub webhooks are correctly configured to send updates to CircleCI. This can be verified in the GitHub repository settings under "Webhooks."
3. Manually Update CircleCI:
   • If the pull request is closed on GitHub but the issue persists, contact CircleCI support to request a manual update. This will clear the CIRCLE_PULL_REQUEST variable and ensure the build environment reflects the correct status. When contacting support, provide the following information:
     • Project name and organization
     • GitHub Pull Request URL
     • CircleCI Build URL (where the issue occurs)

Additional Resources

• CircleCI Environment Variables Documentation
• GitHub Webhooks Documentation