Npm Error Exit handler never called

[perco12]

I am attempting to do a heroku deploy for a node.js app and whenever it runs npm i, it runs into the below error:

Installing dependencies
remote:        Installing node modules (package.json + package-lock)
remote:        npm error Exit handler never called!
remote:        npm error This is an error with npm itself. Please report this error at:
remote:        npm error   <https://github.com/npm/cli/issues>
remote:        npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /tmp/npmcache.IjQGE/_logs/2025-07-28T18_58_44_986Z-debug-0.log

Here is the full error

Enumerating objects: 281, done.
Counting objects: 100% (281/281), done.
Delta compression using up to 10 threads
Compressing objects: 100% (242/242), done.
Writing objects: 100% (281/281), 224.12 KiB | 6.40 MiB/s, done.
Total 281 (delta 161), reused 82 (delta 27), pack-reused 0
remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (161/161), done.
remote: Updated 63 paths from 6ccd317
remote: Compressing source files... done.
remote: Building source:
remote: 
remote: -----> Building on the Heroku-22 stack
remote: -----> Determining which buildpack to use for this app
remote: -----> Node.js app detected
remote:        
remote: -----> Creating runtime environment
remote:        
remote:        NPM_CONFIG_LOGLEVEL=error
remote:        USE_NPM_INSTALL=true
remote:        NODE_VERBOSE=false
remote:        NODE_ENV=production
remote:        NODE_MODULES_CACHE=true
remote:        
remote: -----> Installing binaries
remote:        engines.node (package.json):   20.18.1
remote:        engines.npm (package.json):    10.8.2
remote:        
remote:        Resolving node version 20.18.1...
remote:        Downloading and installing node 20.18.1...
remote:        npm 10.8.2 already installed with node
remote:        
remote: -----> Installing dependencies
remote:        Installing node modules (package.json + package-lock)
remote:        npm error Exit handler never called!
remote:        npm error This is an error with npm itself. Please report this error at:
remote:        npm error   <https://github.com/npm/cli/issues>
remote:        npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /tmp/npmcache.IjQGE/_logs/2025-07-28T18_58_44_986Z-debug-0.log
remote:        
remote: -----> Build
remote:        Running build
remote:        
remote:        > lighthouse-ecommerce-v2@0.1.0 build
remote:        > NEXT_PUBLIC_PAYPAL_ENV=production NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider next build
remote:        
remote: sh: 1: next: not found
remote: 
remote: -----> Build failed
remote:        
remote:        We're sorry this build is failing! You can troubleshoot common issues here:
remote:        https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/troubleshooting-node-deploys
remote:        
remote:        If you're stuck, please submit a ticket so we can help:
remote:        https://help.heroku.com/
remote:        
remote:        Love,
remote:        Heroku
remote:        
remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Node.js app.
remote: 
remote:  !     Push failed
remote: Verifying deploy...
remote: 
remote: !       Push rejected to v2-lighthouse-ecommerce.
remote: 
To https://git.heroku.com/v2-lighthouse-ecommerce.git
 ! [remote rejected] main -> main (pre-receive hook declined)

I am able to npm install locally on my machine and it runs with no issues. If I could see the temp logs, I could assess but unable to see it. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

[milaninfy]

Fixed in #8429. Please update npm.