Quick Answer
The most likely cause of a SAM ResourceNotReady error is that a resource the application depends on has not yet been created. This error occurs because AWS CloudFormation, which SAM uses under the hood, enforces strict dependency ordering; when a resource’s creation depends on another resource that is still in a pending or failed state, the deployment halts with this specific error. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of infrastructure-as-code dependency management and CloudFormation stack behavior—a common trap is confusing this with template syntax errors, which would fail validation before deployment, or with code errors that only surface during Lambda invocation. Remember that ResourceNotReady is a deployment-time dependency issue, not a runtime or syntax problem. A helpful memory tip: think of it as “Resource Not Ready = Dependency Not Done.”
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer is deploying a serverless application using AWS SAM. The deployment fails with a 'ResourceNotReady' error. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The SAM template has invalid YAML syntax.
Why wrong: Syntax errors cause validation errors.
The application has too many tags.
Why wrong: Tag count does not cause this error.
A resource that the application depends on is not yet created.
Dependency not ready causes ResourceNotReady.
The Lambda function code has a runtime error.
Why wrong: Runtime errors occur during execution.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A resource that the application depends on is not yet created.
Option B is correct because 'ResourceNotReady' indicates a dependency is not ready. Option A is incorrect because template syntax errors would show before deployment. Option C is incorrect because code errors would show during invocation. Option D is incorrect because tags do not cause this error.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The SAM template has invalid YAML syntax.
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors cause validation errors.
The application has too many tags.
Why it's wrong here
Tag count does not cause this error.
A resource that the application depends on is not yet created.
Why this is correct
Dependency not ready causes ResourceNotReady.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The Lambda function code has a runtime error.
Why it's wrong here
Runtime errors occur during execution.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A resource that the application depends on is not yet created. — Option B is correct because 'ResourceNotReady' indicates a dependency is not ready. Option A is incorrect because template syntax errors would show before deployment. Option C is incorrect because code errors would show during invocation. Option D is incorrect because tags do not cause this error.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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