IronPDF.LinuxARM: Cannot allocate memory in static TLS block

Curtis Chau

Updated:August 20, 2025

When using the LinuxARM version of IronPDF, an exception message appears when attempting to load libcef.so on Linux ARM dynamically. And the following exception message would appear.

IronSoftware.Exceptions.IronSoftwareDeploymentException: Error while deploying IronPdf Chrome renderer: '/irontest/testIronPdfOnLinuxArm/bin/Debug/net8.0/runtimes/linux-arm64/native/libcef.so: cannot allocate memory in static TLS block'. To learn more about making an engineering support request please visit: . To learn how to solve this issue please read https://ironpdf.com/troubleshooting/error-while-deploying-chrome-dependencies/ [Issue Code IRONPDF-CHROME-DEPLOYMENT-ERROR-LINUX]

Problem

When dynamically loading libcef.so on Linux ARM, you may encounter an error stating: "cannot allocate memory in static TLS block." This error is a recognized issue associated with the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF). It arises because newer versions of CEF demand more Thread Local Storage (TLS) space than what the Linux dynamic linker allocates by default. This issue is well-documented and affects both Linux ARM processors and Linux ARM x64 systems, which both experience not having enough Thread Local Storage(TLS) for the newer version of CEF. You can find more information and the discussion on this issue here.

Solution

The solution to this exception is to manually set it before running your application, as shown below.

export LD_PRELOAD=/path/to/libcef.so

export LD_PRELOAD=/path/to/libcef.so

SHELL

By setting LD_PRELOAD manually before the C# process, we force the linker to load libcef.so first, before other libraries, ensuring sufficient TLS memory allocation. This approach has been proven to be highly effective, resolving the issue and preventing it from failing with TLS allocation errors. You can be confident that this solution works.

The LD_PRELOAD method is the most effective and simplistic approach recommended by other users, including the CEF Forums.

This is currently a workaround until CEF eventually solves the issue for ARM, as they did for the x64 builds by reducing the TLS usage in libxml2. However, there is no defined timeline for when CEF will address this.

Curtis Chau

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Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

Beyond development, Curtis has a strong interest in the Internet of Things (IoT), exploring innovative ways to integrate hardware and software. In his free time, he enjoys gaming and building Discord bots, combining his love for technology with creativity.