Seems as if the system gets confused between the system installed tlmgr and the vanila tlmgr.
i would suggest to make a solution which can update the PATH variables so this problems is avoided. ** Attachment added: "Screenshot from 2015-01-06 14:55:16.png" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/texlive-base/+bug/1242914/+attachment/4292917/+files/Screenshot%20from%202015-01-06%2014%3A55%3A16.png -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to texlive-base in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1242914 Title: tlmgr unable to set up TLPDB Status in texlive-base package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: When attempting to use tlmgr on Ubuntu 13.10, the program fails. Different options produce slightly different output: $ tlmgr --gui (running on Debian, switching to user mode!) Loading local TeX Live database; this may take some time, please be patient ... cannot setup TLPDB in /home/nskillen/texmf at /usr/bin/tlmgr line 5308. Compilation failed in require at /usr/bin/tlmgr line 4439. $ tlmgr update --all (running on Debian, switching to user mode!) cannot setup TLPDB in /home/nskillen/texmf at /usr/bin/tlmgr line 5308. The commands also fails when using sudo to run as root, with exactly the same output. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10 Package: texlive-base 2013.20130722-1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-12.19-generic 3.11.3 Uname: Linux 3.11.0-12-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: wl ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2 Architecture: amd64 Date: Mon Oct 21 14:16:50 2013 InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-17 (4 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Beta amd64 (20130925.1) MarkForUpload: True PackageArchitecture: all ProcEnviron: LANGUAGE=en_CA:en PATH=(custom, no user) XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> LANG=en_CA.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: texlive-base UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/texlive-base/+bug/1242914/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp