tensorflow: Convert to TFLite Unexpected value for attribute 'data_format'. Expected 'NHWC'

I’m trying to convert a frozen Tensorflow graph. See model here. I found a lot related bug reports on that issue but non of them was actually solved: #30411, #7967,#24491.

System information

• OS Platform and Distribution: Linux Ubuntu 19.04 64bit
• TensorFlow installed from (source or binary): binary (CPU)
• TensorFlow version (use command below): v1.14.0-rc1-22-gaf24dc9 1.14.0
• Python version: 3.7.3

Describe the current behavior Running in Jupyter I get following error:

ConverterError: TOCO failed. See console for info.
2019-07-28 21:08:26.912035: F tensorflow/lite/toco/import_tensorflow.cc:2619] Check failed: status.ok() Unexpected value for attribute 'data_format'. Expected 'NHWC'
Fatal Python error: Aborted

Current thread 0x00007fc8ee681740 (most recent call first):
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/toco/python/toco_from_protos.py", line 33 in execute
  File "/home/paul/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/absl/app.py", line 251 in _run_main
  File "/home/paul/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/absl/app.py", line 300 in run
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/python/platform/app.py", line 40 in run
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/toco/python/toco_from_protos.py", line 59 in main
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/bin/toco_from_protos", line 10 in <module>
Aborted (core dumped)

Running over shell:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "tensorflow_issue_tflite.py", line 10, in <module>
    tflite_model = converter.convert()
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/python/lite.py", line 898, in convert
    **converter_kwargs)
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/python/convert.py", line 404, in toco_convert_impl
    input_data.SerializeToString())
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/python/convert.py", line 172, in toco_convert_protos
    "TOCO failed. See console for info.\n%s\n%s\n" % (stdout, stderr))
tensorflow.lite.python.convert.ConverterError: TOCO failed. See console for info.
2019-07-28 21:35:22.220584: F tensorflow/lite/toco/import_tensorflow.cc:2619] Check failed: status.ok() Unexpected value for attribute 'data_format'. Expected 'NHWC'
Fatal Python error: Aborted

Current thread 0x00007fae1bce0740 (most recent call first):
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/toco/python/toco_from_protos.py", line 33 in execute
  File "/home/paul/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/absl/app.py", line 251 in _run_main
  File "/home/paul/.local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/absl/app.py", line 300 in run
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/python/platform/app.py", line 40 in run
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/lib/python3.7/site-packages/tensorflow/lite/toco/python/toco_from_protos.py", line 59 in main
  File "/home/paul/anaconda3/envs/openvino/bin/toco_from_protos", line 10 in <module>
Aborted (core dumped)

Code to reproduce the issue

import tensorflow as tf

graph_def_file = "model_lcnn_29v2_cpu.pb"

input_arrays = ["0"]
output_arrays = ["MatMul"]

converter = tf.lite.TFLiteConverter.from_frozen_graph(
  graph_def_file, input_arrays, output_arrays)
tflite_model = converter.convert()
open("model_lcnn_29v2.tflite", "wb").write(tflite_model)