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Fixing the 'Call to a member function get_page_permastruct() on null' Error in LightStart

25 threads Sep 16, 2025

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Many users of the 'LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder' plugin have encountered a specific and alarming error: Call to a member function get_page_permastruct() on null. This error often appears briefly when activating maintenance mode but can sometimes cause a full white screen or fatal error, preventing access to the site.

This article explains why this error occurs and provides the most effective solutions to resolve it.

Why Does This Error Happen?

Based on community reports and analysis, this error is typically a compatibility issue. It arises when the plugin, or another process like a caching system, tries to generate a URL (a permalink) before the WordPress environment has been fully set up. The function get_page_permastruct() is a core WordPress function responsible for creating page URLs. The error 'on null' indicates that this function is being called on an object that doesn't exist yet, meaning the code is running too early in the WordPress loading process.

This issue has been frequently reported with WordPress version 6.2 and specific plugin versions (e.g., 2.6.7, 2.6.18, 2.6.19), often in conjunction with caching plugins like WP Super Cache.

How to Fix the 'get_page_permastruct() on null' Error

Here are the most common and effective solutions, starting with the simplest.

1. Check for a Plugin Update

The LightStart team is often quick to address widespread issues. Before trying anything more complex, check your WordPress admin dashboard to see if a new version of the plugin is available. Updating to the latest version may resolve the compatibility conflict that is causing the error.

2. Perform a Conflict Test

Sometimes, the interaction between multiple plugins can cause unexpected errors. To rule this out, perform a quick conflict test.

  1. Deactivate all plugins except for 'LightStart – Maintenance Mode'.
  2. Activate maintenance mode and see if the error persists.
  3. If the error is gone, reactivate your other plugins one by one, checking after each activation, until you find the one that causes the error to return. You can then decide to keep that plugin deactivated or look for an alternative.

As seen in the sample threads, users have reported this error even with all other plugins deactivated, which points to a core issue with the plugin itself. However, a conflict test is always a valuable diagnostic step.

3. Clear Your Caching Mechanisms

This error is frequently linked to caching. If you are using a caching plugin (e.g., WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache) or server-level caching, clear all cached files. The error might be caused by a cached page that contains an old, incompatible code reference.

4. Reinstall the Plugin Manually

If you cannot access your admin area due to the error, you will need to use FTP or your web host's file manager.

  1. Connect to your site via FTP.
  2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Locate and delete the wp-maintenance-mode folder. This will forcibly deactivate the plugin.
  4. Download a fresh copy of the plugin from the WordPress.org repository.
  5. Upload the new plugin folder to your /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  6. Go to your WordPress admin Plugins page and activate 'LightStart' again.

5. Roll Back to a Previous Version

If the error started after a recent update and the above steps haven't helped, temporarily rolling back to a known stable version can restore functionality while you wait for a permanent fix. You can download previous versions from the plugin's 'Advanced' page on the WordPress repository.

  1. Visit the WP Maintenance Mode Advanced page.
  2. Scroll down to the "Previous Versions" section.
  3. Select an older version (e.g., 2.4.4 has been noted by users as stable in some cases) and download it.
  4. Use the manual reinstallation process above to replace your current version with the older one.

Important: Only use this as a temporary workaround. Older versions may have security vulnerabilities or lack new features. Remember to update again once a new stable release is announced.

Conclusion

The 'get_page_permastruct() on null' error is a disruptive but usually fixable compatibility problem. The most reliable solutions are to ensure you are running the latest plugin version, clear all caching, and, if necessary, perform a clean reinstall. For persistent issues, the LightStart development team is likely aware of the problem and working on a solution, so keeping an eye on official update logs is recommended.

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