signIn.ticket() doesn't complete sign-in for sign-in tokens in @clerk/react-router

[peter-skillmasters]

Preliminary Checks

• I have reviewed the documentation: https://clerk.com/docs

• I have searched for existing issues: https://github.com/clerk/javascript/issues

• I have not already reached out to Clerk support via email or Discord (if you have, no need to open an issue here)

• This issue is not a question, general help request, or anything other than a bug report directly related to Clerk. Please ask questions in our Discord community: https://clerk.com/discord.

Reproduction

git@github.com:Skill-Masters/clerk-ticket-strategy-issue.git

Publishable key

pk_test_c3VpdGFibGUtY2hvdy0xMC5jbGVyay5hY2NvdW50cy5kZXYk

Description

Using the latest version of @clerk/react-router (3.6.9), signIn.ticket() cannot be finalized:

Error: Cannot finalize sign-in without a created session.

This is a similar issue to #8219, which is marked as closed, but the issue still exists for @clerk/react-router specifically.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Create a sign-in token via Backend API: POST /v1/sign_in_tokens with { user_id, expires_in_seconds }
2. On a react-router page, use the token:

   const { signIn, fetchStatus } = useSignIn();
   
   const { error } = await signIn.ticket({ ticket: token });
   console.log(error);        // null
   console.log(signIn.status); // "needs_identifier" — should be "complete"

Expected behavior:

The signIn.finalize() call should work after creating a sign in with a valid sign in token.

Actual behavior:

signIn.ticket() result: { result: undefined, error: null }
signIn.status // "needs_identifier"
signIn.createdSessionId // null

Environment

System:
    OS: macOS 26.5.2
    CPU: (11) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
    Memory: 184.36 MB / 18.00 GB
    Shell: 5.9 - /bin/zsh
  Binaries:
    Node: 24.14.0 - /Users/pete/.asdf/installs/nodejs/24.14.0/bin/node
    npm: 11.14.1 - /Users/pete/.asdf/plugins/nodejs/shims/npm
    pnpm: 10.33.2 - /Users/pete/.asdf/installs/nodejs/24.14.0/bin/pnpm
    Watchman: 2025.10.13.00 - /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
  Browsers:
    Chrome: 151.0.7922.109
    Firefox: 147.0.1
    Safari: 26.5.2
  npmPackages:
    @biomejs/biome: ^2.5.8 => 2.5.8 
    @clerk/react-router: ^3.6.9 => 3.6.9 
    @react-router/dev: ^8 => 8.3.0 
    @react-router/node: ^8 => 8.3.0 
    @react-router/serve: ^8 => 8.3.0 
    @tailwindcss/vite: ^4.2.2 => 4.3.3 
    @types/node: ^22 => 22.20.1 
    @types/react: ^19.2.14 => 19.2.18 
    @types/react-dom: ^19.2.3 => 19.2.4 
    dotenv: ^17.4.2 => 17.4.2 
    isbot: ^5.1.36 => 5.2.1 
    react: ^19.2.7 => 19.2.8 
    react-dom: ^19.2.7 => 19.2.8 
    react-router: ^8 => 8.3.0 
    tailwindcss: ^4.2.2 => 4.3.3 
    typescript: ^5.9.3 => 5.9.3 
    vite: ^8.0.3 => 8.2.1