3.38. Why am I receiving moderation requests that read ...mailing list has -1 request(s) waiting... ?

A newly created mailman 2.1.5 list will email bogus moderator requests until a genuine one has been handled. The email posted says:

 "Subject: -1 LISTNAME moderator request(s) waiting

 The LISTADDRESS mailing list has -1 request(s) waiting
 for your consideration at:
        WEBADDRESS
 Please attend to this at your earliest convenience.  This notice of
 pending requests, if any, will be sent out daily."

The cause is that request.pck is either missing or it doesn't contain the version info.

The workaround is simply to create a real moderation request (which automatically creates a request.pck) or to copy a valid request.pck file over from another list.

There's also a patch available at sourceforge, which should fix this. http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=970383&group_id=103&atid=300103

You can also fix it by hand:

 $ bin/withlist -l mylistwithoutrequests
 >>> print  m.NumRequestsPending()
 -1
 >>> m.Save()
 >>> m.Unlock()
 >>> {ctrl-D}

Converted from the Mailman FAQ Wizard

This is one of many Frequently Asked Questions.