Blazor WebAssembly SignalR HubConnection causing javascript error on reload - signalr

Question

I have a SignalR HubConnection within my Blazor WebAssembly application and whilst it works most of the time, if I reload the page (via the browser reload) then I often am getting the following error in the console and the connection is not made:
Uncaught Error: The delegate target that is being invoked is no longer available. Please check if it has been prematurely GC'd.
at Object.invoke_delegate (dotnet.5.0.4.js:1)
at WebSocket. (dotnet.5.0.4.js:1)
Here's a rough, simplified view of the code where I create the HubConnection (and dispose it).
#inherits LayoutBase
#attribute [Authorize]
<AuthorizeView>
<Authorized>
//...
</Authorized>
<NotAuthorized>
//...
</NotAuthorized>
</AuthorizeView>
public class LayoutBase : LayoutComponentBase, IAsyncDisposable
{
[Inject] public IAccessTokenProvider AccessTokenProvider { get; set; }
private readonly HubConnection _hubConnection;
protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
{
_hubConnection = new HubConnectionBuilder()
.AddNewtonsoftJsonProtocol(c =>
{
//...
})
.WithUrl(notificationHubUrl, option => option.AccessTokenProvider = GetAccessToken)
.WithAutomaticReconnect()
.Build();
_hubConnection.Closed += HubConnectionOnClosed;
_hubConnection.Reconnected += HubConnectionOnReconnected;
_hubConnection.Reconnecting += HubConnectionOnReconnecting;
await _hubConnection.StartAsync()
await base.OnInitializedAsync();
}
private async Task<string> GetAccessToken()
{
var tokenResult = await AccessTokenProvider.RequestAccessToken(...)
// etc...
}
// .. Event Handlers
public ValueTask DisposeAsync()
{
_logger.LogInformation($"Disposing Hub: {_hubConnection.ConnectionId}");
_hubConnection.Closed -= HubConnectionOnClosed;
_hubConnection.Reconnected -= HubConnectionOnReconnected;
_hubConnection.Reconnecting -= HubConnectionOnReconnecting;
return _hubConnection.DisposeAsync();
}
}
Previously I had it as an injected service but I eventually simplified it to this structure but it continues to get this error on reload. It's not every time I reload but most times.
I have tried changing the dispose pattern without success. I can't find any information on the error anywhere else.
Any ideas?

Answer 1

I don't have a definitive answer as to the underlying reason but I suspect that this is a bug somewhere in the SignalR/dotnet framework resulting in the GCing of a delegate because something drops a reference to it.
One way I've managed to provoke this error reasonably consistently is to have a handler returning just a Task, e.g.
_hubConnection.On<TEvent>(eventType.Name, OnEvent);
where OnEvent looks like this:
// THIS IS THE BROKEN SIGNATURE - DO NOT USE
private async Task OnEvent<TEvent>(TEvent e)
{
}
A workaround which appears to have fixed it for me is to make the handler actually return something. This seems to make something deeper in the framework hold a reference for longer so that it doesn't get GC'ed. E.g.
// WORKS ON MY MACHINE - Note the return type of Task<object>
private async Task<object> OnEvent<TEvent>(TEvent e)
{
// ... Do stuff
return null;
}