# Wp-cli's wp db query fails to connect when executing SQL on the command line **URL:** \ **Category:** Bugs\ **Tags:** mac\ **Created:** [June 9, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/wp-clis-wp-db-query-fails-to-connect-when-executing-sql-on-the-command-line/50462 "2025-06-09T18:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@jayhill](https://community.localwp.com/u/jayhill)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/wp-clis-wp-db-query-fails-to-connect-when-executing-sql-on-the-command-line/50462/1 "2025-06-09T18:49:03Z")
# Bug Summary When trying to run a shell script that queries the database via WP-CLI’s `wp db query` comamnd, theconnection fails. `Error: Failed to get current SQL modes. Reason: ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/tmp/mysql.sock' (2)` This is due to the way that wp-cli connects to MySQL via the settings in the wp-config.php file. I resolved this by setting the wp-config.php database hostname to `localhost:/THEPATH/TO/PROJECTS/Local/run/cRMxNZCsF/mysql/mysqld.sock` # Steps to reproduce Create a new site. Open the Site Shell. Execute a SQL command such as `wp db query "SELECT * from wp_options"` You should see the connection error. Change the hostname to `localhost:Path/tothe/socket` that is listed on the Database tab in Local, and rerun the command and you should get back the contents of the options table. # Environment Info Describe your environment. - What Operating System are you using? MacOS 13.7.4 (22H420) - What versions of site software (Nginx, Apache, PHP, MySQL) is used? 8.0 for PHP and 8.0.16 for MySQL - What version of Local is installed? Version 9.0.5+6706 # Supporting info My suggestion to resolve this would be for Local to automatically use the full socket path in the wp-config.php file rather than just “localhost”