# Error: The CloudFormation template is invalid: Template error: instance of Fn::GetAtt references undefined resource lambda\_user

**URL:** <https://forum.serverless.com/t/error-the-cloudformation-template-is-invalid-template-error-instance-of-fn-getatt-references-undefined-resource-lambda-user/3008>\
**Category:** Serverless Framework\
**Created:** [November 2, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://forum.serverless.com/t/error-the-cloudformation-template-is-invalid-template-error-instance-of-fn-getatt-references-undefined-resource-lambda-user/3008 "2017-11-02T02:56:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![k.art](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.serverless.com/k.art/32/1204_2.png) [@k.art](https://forum.serverless.com/u/k.art)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://forum.serverless.com/t/error-the-cloudformation-template-is-invalid-template-error-instance-of-fn-getatt-references-undefined-resource-lambda-user/3008/1 "2017-11-02T02:56:16Z")

</div>

Got this error:  
`Error: The CloudFormation template is invalid: Template error: instance of Fn::GetAtt references undefined resource lambda_user`.

My serverless.yml:

```
[..]
    provider:
      name: aws
      runtime: nodejs6.10
      memorySize: 512
      timeout: 30
      stage: staging
      region: ap-southeast-2
      role: lambda_user
[..]

```

had to replace the role with the full arn to avoid the error.

1. It would be nice if the error would be more precise
2. Not sure if the [docs](https://serverless.com/framework/docs/providers/aws/guide/iam#one-custom-iam-role-for-all-functions) should just mention the arn and not the role name