Missing global error workflow in n8n
Why every production workflow needs a dedicated error handler
What is this issue?
A missing global error workflow means your n8n instance has no centralized way to handle unexpected errors. When a workflow fails without proper error handling, the failure goes unnoticed and unlogged.
Common symptoms:
•Silent workflow failures with no notifications•No alerting when critical automations fail•Errors only discovered when checking execution history•Missing audit trail for debugging
Why is this dangerous?
Silent failures
Without an error workflow, failed executions don't trigger any alerts, leaving you unaware of critical issues.
Lost data
Data being processed when a workflow fails may be lost forever if not properly captured in error handling.
Delayed incident response
You might only discover failures hours or days later when checking logs or when users report issues.
Debugging difficulty
Without proper error logging, tracing the root cause of failures becomes much harder.
How to fix it
- 1
Create an error workflow
Create a new workflow with an Error Trigger node as the starting point. This will catch all errors from other workflows.
- 2
Add notification logic
Connect Error Trigger to notification nodes (Slack, Email, Discord) to alert your team immediately when errors occur.
- 3
Log error details
Store error information (workflow name, error message, execution ID) in a database or logging service for debugging.
- 4
Set as global error handler
Go to Settings → Workflows and set this workflow as the default error workflow for your n8n instance.
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