# Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI

> Fix Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI - the provider returned a different value at apply than it planned (a provider bug).

Source: https://latchkey.dev/learn/terraform/terraform-apply-provider-inconsistent-final-plan  
Updated: 2026-06-26

Terraform checks that what a provider promised during plan matches what it produces during apply. A mismatch is an internal consistency error, most often a provider bug or an attribute that should have been marked unknown.

## Diagnose it: init, state, or credentials?

Terraform failures in CI are dominated by backend and credential problems rather than configuration errors. Confirm the runner can initialise, authenticate, and lock state before reading the plan.

```Terminal
terraform init -backend=true -input=false
terraform validate
terraform providers
terraform plan -input=false -no-color -detailed-exitcode
#   0 = no changes, 2 = changes, 1 = error
```

> A cancelled CI job can leave the state lock held, which blocks every later run with an error that reads like a permissions failure. Confirm no apply is genuinely running before force-unlocking.

## FAQ

### What causes Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI?

There are 3 common causes: provider bug in a specific version, computed attribute not marked unknown, and inputs changed between plan and apply. A known defect in the provider mishandles an attribute between plan and apply.

### How do I fix Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI?

There are 2 fixes depending on which cause you have: upgrade or pin a known-good provider and stabilize the offending attribute. Work through them in order, since the first is the most common.

### What does Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI actually mean?

terraform apply aborts with "Provider produced inconsistent final plan", naming an attribute whose planned and actual values differ and asking you to report it as a provider bug.

### How do I stop Terraform "Provider produced inconsistent final plan" in CI happening again?

Pin provider versions and upgrade deliberately. The prevention section lists 3 changes that keep it from recurring.

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Latchkey runs CI/CD that repairs its own failures. Agent entry points: https://latchkey.dev/agent.txt, https://latchkey.dev/openapi.json, https://latchkey.dev/llms.txt