Strange error - knife ssh "name:node_name" "pwd" -x root -P password returns FATAL: No nodes returned from search!

I successfully bootstrapped my node, which run an empty run list

knife bootstrap node_name -N node_name -E my_env -x root -P password
Connecting to node_name
Node_name Starting first Chef Client run…
Node_name [2014-11-05T13:22:04-05:00] WARN:
Node_name * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Node_name SSL validation of HTTPS requests is disabled. HTTPS connections are still
Node_name encrypted, but chef is not able to detect forged replies or man in the middle
Node_name attacks.
Node_name To fix this issue add an entry like this to your configuration file:
Node_name Node_name # Verify all HTTPS connections (recommended) Node_name ssl_verify_mode :verify_peer Node_name # OR, Verify only connections to chef-server Node_name verify_api_cert true Node_name
Node_name To check your SSL configuration, or troubleshoot errors, you can use the
Node_name knife ssl check command like so:
Node_name Node_name knife ssl check -c /etc/chef/client.rb Node_name
Node_name
Node_name * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Node_name Starting Chef Client, version 11.12.2
Node_name Creating a new client identity for node_name using the validator key.
Node_name resolving cookbooks for run list: []
Node_name Synchronizing Cookbooks:
Node_name Compiling Cookbooks…
Node_name [2014-11-05T13:22:07-05:00] WARN: Node node_name has an empty run list.
Node_name Converging 0 resources
Node_name Running handlers:
Node_name Running handlers complete
Node_name Chef Client finished, 0/0 resources updated in 2.479062 seconds

knife node show node_name
Node Name: node_name
Environment: my_env
FQDN: node_name
IP:
Run List:
Roles:
Recipes:
Platform: redhat 5.11
Tags:

knife ssh “name:node_name” “pwd” -x root -P password
FATAL: No nodes returned from search!

I CAN go to the node, node_name, and run chef-client from it.

I’ve done the process repeatedly to no avail.

Why?
How can I fix it?

Chris