# Why can't I place a stop limit order for an option position I hold?

**URL:** <https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/why-cant-i-place-a-stop-limit-order-for-an-option-position-i-hold/19150>\
**Category:** Alpaca Trading\
**Created:** [June 22, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/why-cant-i-place-a-stop-limit-order-for-an-option-position-i-hold/19150 "2026-06-22T21:05:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dchitnis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.alpaca.markets/dchitnis/32/8419_2.png) [@dchitnis](https://forum.alpaca.markets/u/dchitnis)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/why-cant-i-place-a-stop-limit-order-for-an-option-position-i-hold/19150/1 "2026-06-22T21:05:04Z")

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I have long position for an option as in the position below:

 ![Screenshot 2026-06-22 165129](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/alp/original/2X/c/c9adeed0911aa6a74d9d72279ecc289b65885f88.png)

When I try to place a stop limit “sell\_to\_close” order with the exact same qty, the API returns an error stating, I do not have enough cash in the account. Seems like it is treating the ‘sell’ as a standalone transaction, which is not true. How am I expected to submit such an order and exit the position when the stop is hit?

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**Author:** ![Dan\_Whitnable\_Alpaca](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.alpaca.markets/dan_whitnable_alpaca/32/1658_2.png) [@Dan\_Whitnable\_Alpaca](https://forum.alpaca.markets/u/Dan_Whitnable_Alpaca)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/why-cant-i-place-a-stop-limit-order-for-an-option-position-i-hold/19150/2 "2026-06-24T19:50:29Z")

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@dchitnis Verify you do not have an existing order which is trying to sell that same contract. That is probably why it thinks you were trying to sell short which is why it’s looking at buying power.

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**Author:** ![dchitnis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.alpaca.markets/dchitnis/32/8419_2.png) [@dchitnis](https://forum.alpaca.markets/u/dchitnis)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/why-cant-i-place-a-stop-limit-order-for-an-option-position-i-hold/19150/3 "2026-06-25T14:56:56Z")

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No, I don’t have an existing order. I simply have the position and I’m trying to place a sell\_to\_close intent order. Also, notice that the submit order works, but the order is being rejected right away. Hence I provided the order id so it can be diagnosed why it is being rejected. The returned object does not seem to have any explanation as to why the order is being rejected.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/alp/original/2X/1/143848dcf0fd363210615e554ab5278f9c5b8c12.png)