Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Linux - Syntax error when issuing command

Syntax error in bash script when using if condition and file operations.

Quick Answer: The issue is caused by the use of `&&` instead of `&&` for logical AND, which is not a valid operator in bash.

The error occurs when the bash script attempts to execute the if condition with a syntax error. This issue affects users who run bash scripts that contain this specific if condition.

This error can be frustrating for users because it prevents the script from running successfully, and they may not receive any clear error messages to help them diagnose the problem.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this syntax error is the incorrect use of the double quote character ("). In bash, the double quote character has a special meaning when used inside square brackets ([]), and it must be escaped with a backslash (").
  • Another possible cause is the incorrect usage of the '&&' operator. The '&&' operator is a logical AND operator that requires both conditions to be true for the script to continue executing. If either condition is false, the script will exit immediately.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Correcting the syntax error

  1. Step 1: To correct the syntax error, replace the double quote character (") with an escaped version ("). This can be done by replacing " with \".
  2. Step 2: Replace the '&&' operator with a space or another logical AND operator. For example, change && to && or use a space between the conditions: if [ -f $pid_file ] && [ $check_run_proc == *

Alternative Advanced Fix

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