Fix CrewStructuredTool invoke() method bugs

- Fix RuntimeError from asyncio.run() in nested event loops
- Fix double execution of sync functions
- Fix inconsistent coroutine handling
- Add comprehensive tests for all scenarios
- Properly detect event loop context to avoid asyncio.run() conflicts

Fixes #3447

Co-Authored-By: João <joao@crewai.com>

src/crewai/tools/structured_tool.py

@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
-
 import inspect
 import textwrap
-from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, Union, get_type_hints
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, Union, get_type_hints
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, create_model
 
 from crewai.utilities.logger import Logger
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
-
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from crewai.tools.base_tool import BaseTool
 
@@ -192,7 +190,7 @@ class CrewStructuredTool:
                         f"not found in args_schema"
                     )
 
-    def _parse_args(self, raw_args: Union[str, dict]) -> dict:
+    def _parse_args(self, raw_args: str | dict) -> dict:
         """Parse and validate the input arguments against the schema.
 
         Args:
@@ -217,7 +215,7 @@ class CrewStructuredTool:
 
     async def ainvoke(
         self,
-        input: Union[str, dict],
+        input: str | dict,
         config: Optional[dict] = None,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> Any:
@@ -261,7 +259,7 @@ class CrewStructuredTool:
         return self.invoke(input_dict)
 
     def invoke(
-        self, input: Union[str, dict], config: Optional[dict] = None, **kwargs: Any
+        self, input: str | dict, config: Optional[dict] = None, **kwargs: Any
     ) -> Any:
         """Main method for tool execution."""
         parsed_args = self._parse_args(input)
@@ -273,22 +271,40 @@ class CrewStructuredTool:
 
         self._increment_usage_count()
 
-        if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(self.func):
-            result = asyncio.run(self.func(**parsed_args, **kwargs))
-            return result
-
         try:
-            result = self.func(**parsed_args, **kwargs)
+            if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(self.func):
+                coro = self.func(**parsed_args, **kwargs)
+                try:
+                    asyncio.get_running_loop()
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        f"Cannot call async tool '{self.name}' from synchronous context within an event loop. "
+                        f"Use ainvoke() instead or call from outside the event loop."
+                    )
+                except RuntimeError as e:
+                    if "Cannot call async tool" in str(e):
+                        raise
+                    else:
+                        return asyncio.run(coro)
+            else:
+                result = self.func(**parsed_args, **kwargs)
+
+                if asyncio.iscoroutine(result):
+                    try:
+                        asyncio.get_running_loop()
+                        raise RuntimeError(
+                            f"Sync function '{self.name}' returned a coroutine but we're in an event loop. "
+                            f"Use ainvoke() instead or call from outside the event loop."
+                        )
+                    except RuntimeError as e:
+                        if "returned a coroutine but we're in an event loop" in str(e):
+                            raise
+                        else:
+                            return asyncio.run(result)
+
+                return result
         except Exception:
             raise
 
-        result = self.func(**parsed_args, **kwargs)
-
-        if asyncio.iscoroutine(result):
-            return asyncio.run(result)
-
-        return result
-
     def has_reached_max_usage_count(self) -> bool:
         """Check if the tool has reached its maximum usage count."""
         return (

tests/tools/test_structured_tool.py

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def test_initialization(basic_function, schema_class):
     assert tool.func == basic_function
     assert tool.args_schema == schema_class
 
+
 def test_from_function(basic_function):
     """Test creating tool from function"""
     tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ def test_from_function(basic_function):
     assert tool.func == basic_function
     assert isinstance(tool.args_schema, type(BaseModel))
 
+
 def test_validate_function_signature(basic_function, schema_class):
     """Test function signature validation"""
     tool = CrewStructuredTool(
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ def test_validate_function_signature(basic_function, schema_class):
     # Should not raise any exceptions
     tool._validate_function_signature()
 
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_ainvoke(basic_function):
     """Test asynchronous invocation"""
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ async def test_ainvoke(basic_function):
     result = await tool.ainvoke(input={"param1": "test"})
     assert result == "test 0"
 
+
 def test_parse_args_dict(basic_function):
     """Test parsing dictionary arguments"""
     tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(func=basic_function, name="test_tool")
@@ -78,6 +82,7 @@ def test_parse_args_dict(basic_function):
     assert parsed["param1"] == "test"
     assert parsed["param2"] == 42
 
+
 def test_parse_args_string(basic_function):
     """Test parsing string arguments"""
     tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(func=basic_function, name="test_tool")
@@ -86,6 +91,7 @@ def test_parse_args_string(basic_function):
     assert parsed["param1"] == "test"
     assert parsed["param2"] == 42
 
+
 def test_complex_types():
     """Test handling of complex parameter types"""
 
@@ -99,6 +105,7 @@ def test_complex_types():
     result = tool.invoke({"nested": {"key": "value"}, "items": [1, 2, 3]})
     assert result == "Processed 3 items with 1 nested keys"
 
+
 def test_schema_inheritance():
     """Test tool creation with inherited schema"""
 
@@ -119,6 +126,7 @@ def test_schema_inheritance():
     result = tool.invoke({"base_param": "test", "extra_param": 42})
     assert result == "test 42"
 
+
 def test_default_values_in_schema():
     """Test handling of default values in schema"""
 
@@ -144,6 +152,7 @@ def test_default_values_in_schema():
     )
     assert result == "test custom 42"
 
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def custom_tool_decorator():
     from crewai.tools import tool
@@ -155,6 +164,7 @@ def custom_tool_decorator():
 
     return custom_tool
 
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def custom_tool():
     from crewai.tools import BaseTool
@@ -169,18 +179,27 @@ def custom_tool():
 
     return CustomTool()
 
-def build_simple_crew(tool):
-    from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew
 
-    agent1 = Agent(role="Simple role", goal="Simple goal", backstory="Simple backstory", tools=[tool])
+def build_simple_crew(tool):
+    from crewai import Agent, Crew, Task
+
+    agent1 = Agent(
+        role="Simple role",
+        goal="Simple goal",
+        backstory="Simple backstory",
+        tools=[tool],
+    )
 
     say_hi_task = Task(
-        description="Use the custom tool result as answer.", agent=agent1, expected_output="Use the tool result"
+        description="Use the custom tool result as answer.",
+        agent=agent1,
+        expected_output="Use the tool result",
     )
 
     crew = Crew(agents=[agent1], tasks=[say_hi_task])
     return crew
 
+
 @pytest.mark.vcr(filter_headers=["authorization"])
 def test_async_tool_using_within_isolated_crew(custom_tool):
     crew = build_simple_crew(custom_tool)
@@ -188,6 +207,7 @@ def test_async_tool_using_within_isolated_crew(custom_tool):
 
     assert result.raw == "Hello World from Custom Tool"
 
+
 @pytest.mark.vcr(filter_headers=["authorization"])
 def test_async_tool_using_decorator_within_isolated_crew(custom_tool_decorator):
     crew = build_simple_crew(custom_tool_decorator)
@@ -195,6 +215,7 @@ def test_async_tool_using_decorator_within_isolated_crew(custom_tool_decorator):
 
     assert result.raw == "Hello World from Custom Tool"
 
+
 @pytest.mark.vcr(filter_headers=["authorization"])
 def test_async_tool_within_flow(custom_tool):
     from crewai.flow.flow import Flow
@@ -219,6 +240,7 @@ def test_async_tool_using_decorator_within_flow(custom_tool_decorator):
 
     class StructuredExampleFlow(Flow):
         from crewai.flow.flow import start
+
         @start()
         async def start(self):
             crew = build_simple_crew(custom_tool_decorator)
@@ -227,4 +249,96 @@ def test_async_tool_using_decorator_within_flow(custom_tool_decorator):
 
     flow = StructuredExampleFlow()
     result = flow.kickoff()
-    assert result.raw == "Hello World from Custom Tool"
+    assert result.raw == "Hello World from Custom Tool"
+
+
+def test_invoke_sync_function_single_execution():
+    """Test that sync functions are called only once, not twice."""
+    call_count = 0
+
+    def counting_func(message: str) -> str:
+        nonlocal call_count
+        call_count += 1
+        return f"Called {call_count} times with: {message}"
+
+    tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
+        func=counting_func, name="counting_tool", description="A tool that counts calls"
+    )
+
+    result = tool.invoke({"message": "test"})
+    assert call_count == 1, f"Function was called {call_count} times, expected 1"
+    assert result == "Called 1 times with: test"
+
+
+def test_invoke_async_function_outside_event_loop():
+    """Test that async functions work correctly when called outside event loop."""
+
+    async def async_func(message: str) -> str:
+        return f"Async result: {message}"
+
+    tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
+        func=async_func, name="async_tool", description="An async tool"
+    )
+
+    result = tool.invoke({"message": "test"})
+    assert result == "Async result: test"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_invoke_async_function_in_event_loop_raises_error():
+    """Test that async functions raise RuntimeError when called from within event loop."""
+
+    async def async_func(message: str) -> str:
+        return f"Async result: {message}"
+
+    tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
+        func=async_func, name="async_tool", description="An async tool"
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        RuntimeError,
+        match="Cannot call async tool.*from synchronous context within an event loop",
+    ):
+        tool.invoke({"message": "test"})
+
+
+def test_invoke_sync_function_returning_coroutine():
+    """Test handling of sync functions that return coroutines."""
+
+    async def inner_async(message: str) -> str:
+        return f"Inner async: {message}"
+
+    def sync_func_returning_coro(message: str):
+        return inner_async(message)
+
+    tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
+        func=sync_func_returning_coro,
+        name="sync_coro_tool",
+        description="A sync tool that returns coroutine",
+    )
+
+    result = tool.invoke({"message": "test"})
+    assert result == "Inner async: test"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_invoke_sync_function_returning_coroutine_in_event_loop_raises_error():
+    """Test that sync functions returning coroutines raise RuntimeError in event loop."""
+
+    async def inner_async(message: str) -> str:
+        return f"Inner async: {message}"
+
+    def sync_func_returning_coro(message: str):
+        return inner_async(message)
+
+    tool = CrewStructuredTool.from_function(
+        func=sync_func_returning_coro,
+        name="sync_coro_tool",
+        description="A sync tool that returns coroutine",
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        RuntimeError,
+        match="Sync function.*returned a coroutine but we're in an event loop",
+    ):
+        tool.invoke({"message": "test"})