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openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix Gemini web_search provider returns malformed JSON response on plain searches

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Error Message

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response

Code Example

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response

---

{
  "tools": {
    "web": {
      "search": {
        "provider": "gemini",
        "enabled": true
      }
    }
  },
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "google": {
        "enabled": true,
        "config": {
          "webSearch": {
            "apiKey": "[configured]"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

---

{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3,
  "country": "US"
}

---

{
  "error": "unsupported_country",
  "message": "country filtering is not supported by the gemini provider. Only Brave and Perplexity support country filtering.",
  "provider": "gemini"
}

---

{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3,
  "language": "en"
}

---

{
  "error": "unsupported_language",
  "message": "language filtering is not supported by the gemini provider. Only Brave and Perplexity support language filtering.",
  "provider": "gemini"
}

---

{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3
}

---

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response

---

{
  "query": "current date today",
  "count": 1
}

---

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response
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Summary

OpenClaw web search is configured to use the Gemini provider. Provider-specific validation errors confirm requests are reaching the Gemini-backed provider, but plain searches fail with:

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response

Environment

  • OpenClaw version: 2026.5.28 (e932160)
  • Installed npm package: [email protected]
  • Platform: Windows / PowerShell
  • Config path: C:\Users\Porygon\.openclaw\openclaw.json
  • Relevant config:
{
  "tools": {
    "web": {
      "search": {
        "provider": "gemini",
        "enabled": true
      }
    }
  },
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "google": {
        "enabled": true,
        "config": {
          "webSearch": {
            "apiKey": "[configured]"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Reproduction

Using the OpenClaw web_search tool:

  1. Search with a country filter:
{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3,
  "country": "US"
}

Result:

{
  "error": "unsupported_country",
  "message": "country filtering is not supported by the gemini provider. Only Brave and Perplexity support country filtering.",
  "provider": "gemini"
}
  1. Search with a language filter:
{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3,
  "language": "en"
}

Result:

{
  "error": "unsupported_language",
  "message": "language filtering is not supported by the gemini provider. Only Brave and Perplexity support language filtering.",
  "provider": "gemini"
}
  1. Search without unsupported filters:
{
  "query": "OpenClaw Gemini web search test current date May 31 2026",
  "count": 3
}

Result:

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response
  1. Minimal plain search:
{
  "query": "current date today",
  "count": 1
}

Result:

Gemini API error: malformed JSON response

Expected Behavior

For plain searches without unsupported filters, the Gemini provider should return normalized search results or a structured provider/API error.

Actual Behavior

Plain Gemini-backed web searches fail with Gemini API error: malformed JSON response.

Notes

The unsupported_country and unsupported_language responses indicate the request is reaching the Gemini provider path. The failure appears to occur when parsing or normalizing the successful Gemini search response.

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openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix Gemini web_search provider returns malformed JSON response on plain searches