When I first encountered the “The inferred type of ‘meta’ cannot be named without a reference to…” message in Storybook, I was caught off guard. I wanted a quick solution that would keep my TypeScript checks happy and my Storybook setup running smoothly. After a bit of trial and error, I discovered a simple fix that anyone can implement.
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The inferred type of ‘meta’ cannot be named without a reference to ‘@storybook/test/node_modules/@vitest/spy’. This is likely not portable. A type annotation is necessary.
1. Spotting the Problem
I noticed that the error showed up whenever I used the satisfies Meta<typeof Kiosk> approach in my stories. TypeScript decided to infer everything about meta in a way that pulled in references to internal types from @vitest/spy, which caused unwanted complexity.
2. Removing the Culprit
To resolve this issue, I removed the satisfies syntax. Instead of allowing TypeScript to infer the type in a way that caused the error, I switched to explicitly annotating my meta object.
3. Using a Direct Annotation
I replaced:
The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom – The Complete Official Guide: Collector's Edition
$24.99 (as of November 26, 2025 18:35 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company
$19.68 (as of November 26, 2025 18:35 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Art and Making of Arcane (Gaming)
$34.35 (as of November 26, 2025 18:35 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)const meta = {
...
} satisfies Meta<typeof MyComponent>;<br>with:
const meta: Meta<typeof MyComponent> = {
...
};This direct annotation stopped TypeScript from inferring references to extra types and got rid of the error message.
Conclusion
By swapping out satisfies for a straightforward type annotation, I resolved the inference issue and kept my Storybook stories functioning as intended. This small change made my setup cleaner and more predictable. I hope this helps anyone struggling with a similar error.
