Error in python after 'import tensorflow': TypeError: __init__() got an unexpected keyword argument 'syntax'

Question

I installed TensorFlow on my Ubuntu 15.10 machine as instructed for CPU only:

$ pip install https://storage.googleapis.com/tensorflow/linux/cpu/tensorflow-0.5.0-cp27-none-linux_x86_64.whl

Then when I run the Python REPL and import tensorflow, I get:

$ python
Python 2.7.10 (default, Oct 14 2015, 16:09:02) 
[GCC 5.2.1 20151010] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import tensorflow as tf
Traceback (most recent call last):
 File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 4, in <module>
 from tensorflow.python import *
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 13, in <module>
 from tensorflow.core.framework.graph_pb2 import *
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/graph_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
 from tensorflow.core.framework import attr_value_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_attr__value__pb2
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/attr_value_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
 from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__pb2
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
 from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_shape_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__shape__pb2
 File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape_pb2.py", line 22, in <module>
 serialized_pb=_b('\n,tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape.proto \x12\ntensorflow\"d\n\x10TensorShapeProto\x12-\n\x03\x64im\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32 .tensorflow.TensorShapeProto.Dim\x1a!\n\x03\x44im\x12\x0c\n\x04size\x18\x01 \x01(\x03\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x02 \x01(\tb\x06proto3')
TypeError: __init__() got an unexpected keyword argument 'syntax'

I have the Ubuntu protobuf-compiler package installed and it's version 2.6.1-1.2

Answer 1

Several users have reported issues that arise when an older version of protobuf is installed.

TensorFlow requires (and uses a copy of) protobuf-3.0.0a4. However it seems to be conflicting with your installed version (perhaps due to how the PYTHONPATH environment variable is configured on your system?). Can you try uninstalling the python-protobuf package if it is installed, and then seeing if TensorFlow starts correctly?

Some users have had success when using a virtualenv. For instructions on installing TensorFlow into a virtualenv, see the getting started guide.

• aneccodeal: Ok, I had to 'pip uninstall protobuf' as well. Then I reinstalled tensorflow (via pip), restarted the REPL and it was good, thanks.
• fdelia: I additionally had to 'brew uninstall protobuf', on OS X.
• TG Gowda: I had mistakingly installed using brew.. I too had to do brew uninstall protobuf

Answer 2

This github comment solved my problem.

In short, you'll need protobuf>=3.0 installed to make tensorflow work.

First uninstall whichever protobuf you have, then pip install 'protobuf>=3.0.0a3'.

It's not just an issue for Ubuntu, Mac OS also has a similar issue.

• piggybox: Confirmed OSX has the same error, because the version in brew most people will install is still 2.6.1
• carl_h: This definitely fixes the problem on OS X 10.11.5. pip install protobuf installs 2.6.1, which doesn't work of course.

Answer 3

It worked for me:

pip uninstall protobuf
pip uninstall tensorflow
brew uninstall protobuf
pip install https://storage.googleapis.com/tensorflow/mac/tensorflow-0.5.0-py2-none-any.whl
import google.protobuf
>>> print google.protobuf.__version__
3.0.0a4
>>> import tensorflow

• Meghna Natraj: Thank you!! After trying for a couple of minutes this finally worked!

Answer 4

I was having similar issue today. It was because I had python 3.7 installed which is not compatible with tensorflow as of July 30 2018. Downgrading to 3.6 fixed the issue. Posted solution here if anyone is interested.

Following github issue was helpful when resolving this issue: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/issues/17022

Answer 5

I got the same error while running on the python version 2.7. But everything went fine when i ran it using python version 3.

Try the following commands on bash shell:

python3
Python 3.5.2 (default, Nov 17 2016, 17:05:23)
[GCC 5.4.0 20160609] on linux 
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import tensorflow
>>> exit()

It worked for me.