catalog_product_load_before event gives getRequestedRouteName() error

Question

I am trying to add an event observer to run before product page load. I am receiving an error.

Here is my config.xml

<config>
    <frontend>
        <events>
            <catalog_product_load_before>
                <observers>
                    <product_load_handler>
                        <class>hsc_pce/observer</class>
                        <method>productLoadHandler</method>
                    </product_load_handler>
                </observers>
            </catalog_product_load_before>
        </events>
    </frontend>
</config>

Here is my observer function

public function productLoadHandler(Varien_Event_Observer $observer)
{
    echo 'foobar';
    return;
}

I receive the echo and this error

foobar
Fatal error: Call to a member function getRequestedRouteName() on a non-object in app/code/core/Mage/Core/Controller/Varien/Action.php on line 226

The echo demonstrates that the function is being called. Error occurs without echo as well. If I die() before return I do not receive the error, so it's happening afterwards.

The error is in a line that is part of the getFullActionName($delimiter='_') function, which is called by the dispatch($action) function.

I've tried digging deeper, leading me to alter the request object, but it's clear that it's leading nowhere and is not the appropriate solution.

What is causing this error, and how can I prevent it?

Update

Mage::app()->getRequest()->getRequestedRouteName() shows that the requested route name is 'catalog'.

Answer 1

I was mistakenly extending my observer. It was causing this issue. I had this.

class HSC_PCE_Model_Observer extends Mage_Core_Controller_Front_Action 

I changed it back to this.

class HSC_PCE_Model_Observer

Answer 2

You can get getRequestedRouteName() value from app/code/core/Mage/Core/Controller/Varien/Action.php

Because of it, function of class Mage_Core_Controller_Request_Http.

In order to get getRequestedRouteName() value should try with $action->getRequest()->getRequestedRouteName()

At all place of web section at magento,you can try:

Mage::app()->getRequest()->getRequestedRouteName()