Find the reason first
- Open the order book in QuantPower and find the order marked Rejected.
- Read the rejection reason. It comes from your broker or the exchange, so the wording differs by broker.
- Check the same order in your broker's app if the reason is unclear.
Every order passes your broker's risk checks and the exchange's checks before it reaches the order book. A rejected order never reaches the market and does not open a position.
Common reasons and fixes
| Reason group | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Margin | The order needs more margin than is free | Add funds, reduce lots, or place hedge legs first |
| Order type not allowed | The broker or exchange does not accept this type here | Use a limit order. In NSE options, use SL instead of SL-M |
| Price outside the band | The limit or trigger is too far from the market | Price closer to the last traded price |
| Quantity | Not a whole number of lots, or above the freeze quantity | Fix the lots, or split the order with an iceberg order |
| Contract | Expired, not yet listed, or in the F&O ban | Choose a current contract. In a ban, only reduce positions |
| Session | The broker session expired | Log in to your broker again from QuantPower |
| Order rate | Orders were sent faster than allowed | Space out orders. Unregistered algos are limited to 10 orders per second |
| Broker restriction | The broker's risk team has blocked the contract or account | Ask your broker for the reason |
If one leg of a strategy is rejected
A multi-leg position with a missing leg has a different risk from the one you planned. For example, a short straddle with only the call filled is a naked short call.
- Check what filled on the positions screen.
- Decide quickly: exit the filled leg, or place the missing leg by hand once the cause is fixed.
- Pause the bot if it might keep trading on a broken position. See pausing automation.
- Fix the cause before the next run, usually margin or an order rule.
When entering spreads and other hedged positions, buy the hedge legs first. The short legs then get the lower hedged margin and are less likely to be rejected.
Rules that cause rejections on expiry day
- Extra margin: short index options need an extra 2% margin on expiry day.
- No calendar spread benefit: the margin offset between expiries falls away on expiry day.
- Stock options: many brokers block new positions in stock options close to expiry because in-the-money contracts settle by delivery.
Market orders through APIs
Some brokers require market orders placed through their API to carry a price protection limit, or do not accept them in certain contracts. If market orders are rejected, use a limit order priced near the best bid or ask.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my order rejected when I have money in the account?
Margin depends on the position, and money blocked for other positions is not free. Expiry-day margin can also push the requirement up.
Does a rejected order cost anything?
No brokerage or charges apply to a rejected order, because it never reached the market.
How do I stop the same rejection from happening again?
Fix the cause in the strategy's settings, such as the order type, lots or the order of legs, and test the change in paper trading. Paper trading does not run your broker's checks, so watch the first live run closely.
More connection and order problems are covered in broker connection troubleshooting and order types on NSE.