# Could not create index writer

> How to clear a stale Lucene write.lock when Cascade CMS logs "Could not create index writer" and cannot build its search index.

URL: https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/search/could-not-create-index-writer.html
category: Cascade Administration
article-type: reference
content-kind: faq
release-availability: all
tags: errors, search
updated: 2026-10-06

Error messages similar to the following may appear in the *tomcat/logs/**cascade.log* file:

`Could not create index writer: `
`org.apache.lucene.store.LockObtainFailedException:`
`Lock obtain timed out: `
`@/usr/local/Cascade_Server/tomcat/indexes/write.lock`

To correct this problem, the following steps should be taken:

1. Stop Cascade CMS.
1. Remove the file *write.lock* from the location specified in the error message.
1. Start Cascade CMS.