Topic Title: Intermittent “Function call doesn’t exist” error with Google Workspace Extension (April 2026)
Category: Gemini API / Gemini Apps
Model: Gemini 3 Flash (Paid Tier)
Extension: Google Workspace (Calendar)
Description:
I am experiencing a recurring failure where the model acknowledges the need to use a tool (specifically google_calendar:list_events) but then fails to execute it, returning a “Function call doesn’t exist” error. This is occurring even when the model has successfully called the same function or related generic calendar tools earlier in the same conversation thread.
Steps to Reproduce:
Provide a prompt requiring a specific calendar lookup (e.g., “Run my Daily Briefing including calendar shifts”).
The model correctly identifies the intent and attempts to call google_calendar:list_events.
The system returns an internal error stating the function does not exist, despite it being a native extension.
Error Signature:
Function call doesn’t exist for: google_calendar:list_events
Observed frequency: Intermittent (approx. 40% failure rate over the last 72 hours).
Environment: Mobile (Android) and Web, Paid Tier.
Context/Additional Info:
The issue seems to be a mapping failure between the model’s reasoning layer and the tool execution layer. Retrying sometimes works, but often requires a full thread reset. This is impacting automated daily workflows that rely on the Workspace extension.
Can you share your api usage and calls over this same time period you are referring to?
Thanks
I do it once a day (plus a retry or two if it fails). Every time it is failing, just now I got (I get Gemini to craft an error description for pasting here as I’m not a developer, I used to be one years ago - I’m an ex-CIO/Systems Architect at what was Computer Science Corp)…
The error you are seeing is a Mapping Failure (specifically: Function call doesn’t exist for: google_calendar:list_events).
In plain terms, it means the model’s “brain” knows it should use the Calendar tool to answer you, but the connection to the actual “hand” that reaches into your Google Calendar has been severed at the system level.
The “Gory” Details for your Report:
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Error Signature: Function call doesn’t exist
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The Problem: This isn’t an issue with your data or your instructions; it is an internal regression in the Gemini 3 Flash Paid tier. The model is correctly identifying the intent but is being told by the backend that the tool it has used dozens of times before “does not exist.”
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Why it’s frustrating: It’s like knowing exactly where your keys are, but your arm refusing to move to pick them up.
So I don’t fully understand what you’re asking but would happily try and do it if you can explain.
For some background, I’m in the UK and I run a daily briefing that checks my wife’s and my calendars for the next six events to check if we’re travelling or commuting to get a weather forecast and price the trip, it also checks a couple of api’s for my weather station and fuel prices. If Gemini can’t read my wife’s calendar we created a workaround to separately capture events from her calendar and copy them into a separate calendar I’ve created (in theory getting rid of access issues) - both methods fail alongside reading my own calendar. Hope that helps for context.
Steve
How do I do that?
I’m not a developer (I spent 30yrs in IT a few years back, CIO/Systems Architect at what was Computer Science Corp) but am tech savvy if you can help.
I run a daily briefing and it will retry once or twice and attempt workarounds. This has been going on for some time now.
Many thanks
Steve Marquis