This workflow follows the Error Trigger → Google Sheets recipe pattern — see all workflows that pair these two integrations.
The workflow JSON
Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →
{
"name": "05 \u00b7 Error Handling & Retry Template",
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## 05 \u00b7 Error handling & retry template\nTwo independent patterns you can paste into any workflow.\n\n**A \u2014 retry ladder (bottom row).** The HTTP node retries 3\u00d7 fast at node\nlevel (`retryOnFail`). If it still fails, the error output feeds an outer\nloop: wait 1 minute, try again, give up after 3 outer attempts and\nescalate to a human.\n\n**B \u2014 Error Trigger (top row).** Point any workflow's *Settings \u2192 Error\nWorkflow* at this one and every unhandled failure lands in one sheet and\none Telegram alert.",
"height": 360,
"width": 620,
"color": 3
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000000",
"name": "Overview",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
-320,
-300
]
},
{
"parameters": {},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000001",
"name": "Error Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.errorTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
-300,
120
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// Runs when ANY workflow that points its \"Error Workflow\" setting here fails.\nconst error = $json.execution?.error ?? $json.trigger?.error ?? {};\n\nreturn [\n {\n json: {\n workflow_name: $json.workflow?.name ?? 'unknown',\n workflow_id: $json.workflow?.id ?? '',\n execution_id: $json.execution?.id ?? '',\n execution_url: $json.execution?.url ?? '',\n failed_node: error.node?.name ?? 'unknown',\n message: error.message ?? 'no message',\n stack: String(error.stack ?? '').slice(0, 1000),\n last_node: $json.execution?.lastNodeExecuted ?? '',\n failed_at: new Date().toISOString(),\n },\n },\n];"
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000002",
"name": "Format Error",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"typeVersion": 2,
"position": [
-80,
120
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"operation": "append",
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "REPLACE_WITH_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID",
"mode": "id"
},
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "Failures",
"mode": "name"
},
"columns": {
"mappingMode": "defineBelow",
"value": {
"Failed At": "={{ $json.failed_at }}",
"Workflow": "={{ $json.workflow_name }}",
"Node": "={{ $json.failed_node }}",
"Message": "={{ $json.message }}",
"Execution": "={{ $json.execution_url }}"
},
"matchingColumns": [],
"schema": []
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000003",
"name": "Log Failure to Sheet",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"typeVersion": 4.5,
"position": [
160,
120
],
"credentials": {
"googleSheetsOAuth2Api": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
},
"onError": "continueRegularOutput"
},
{
"parameters": {
"chatId": "REPLACE_WITH_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID",
"text": "=\ud83d\udca5 <b>Workflow failed</b>\n\n<b>{{ $json.workflow_name }}</b>\nNode: <code>{{ $json.failed_node }}</code>\n\n{{ $json.message }}\n\n{{ $json.execution_url }}",
"additionalFields": {
"parse_mode": "HTML",
"disable_web_page_preview": true
}
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000004",
"name": "Escalate to Telegram",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.telegram",
"typeVersion": 1.2,
"position": [
400,
120
],
"credentials": {
"telegramApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000005",
"name": "Run Retry Demo",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
-300,
420
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"url": "https://httpbin.org/status/200,500,503",
"options": {
"timeout": 15000,
"response": {
"response": {
"neverError": false
}
}
}
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000006",
"name": "Call Unreliable API",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
"typeVersion": 4.2,
"position": [
-80,
420
],
"retryOnFail": true,
"maxTries": 3,
"waitBetweenTries": 2000,
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"alwaysOutputData": true
},
{
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// The call succeeded: clear the outer-loop counter so the next execution\n// starts from zero. Same 'global' scope as Count Attempt.\nconst state = $getWorkflowStaticData('global');\nstate.attempts = 0;\nreturn $input.all();"
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000007",
"name": "Reset Attempt Counter",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"typeVersion": 2,
"position": [
180,
340
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// Node-level retries (3 fast attempts) have already been exhausted at this\n// point. This is the slow outer loop: wait, then try the whole call again.\n// Scope is 'global' so the reset node can clear the same counter.\nconst state = $getWorkflowStaticData('global');\nstate.attempts = (state.attempts ?? 0) + 1;\n\nconst error = $json.error ?? {};\n\nreturn [\n {\n json: {\n attempt: state.attempts,\n max_attempts: 3,\n give_up: state.attempts >= 3,\n error_message: error.message ?? String($json.message ?? 'unknown error'),\n status_code: error.httpCode ?? $json.statusCode ?? null,\n failed_at: new Date().toISOString(),\n },\n },\n];"
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000008",
"name": "Count Attempt",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"typeVersion": 2,
"position": [
180,
520
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"conditions": {
"options": {
"caseSensitive": true,
"leftValue": "",
"typeValidation": "loose",
"version": 2
},
"conditions": [
{
"id": "c1",
"leftValue": "={{ $json.give_up }}",
"rightValue": "",
"operator": {
"type": "boolean",
"operation": "false",
"singleValue": true
}
}
],
"combinator": "and"
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000009",
"name": "Retry Budget Left?",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
400,
520
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"amount": 1,
"unit": "minutes"
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000010",
"name": "Wait 1 Minute",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
"typeVersion": 1.1,
"position": [
620,
440
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"chatId": "REPLACE_WITH_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID",
"text": "=\ud83d\uded1 <b>Gave up after {{ $json.attempt }} attempts</b>\n\n<code>{{ $json.error_message }}</code>\nHTTP {{ $json.status_code || '\u2014' }} \u00b7 {{ $json.failed_at }}",
"additionalFields": {
"parse_mode": "HTML"
}
},
"id": "00000005-0000-4000-8000-000000000011",
"name": "Give Up and Alert",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.telegram",
"typeVersion": 1.2,
"position": [
620,
620
],
"credentials": {
"telegramApi": {
"name": "<your credential>"
}
}
}
],
"connections": {
"Error Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Format Error",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Format Error": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Log Failure to Sheet",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Log Failure to Sheet": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Escalate to Telegram",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Run Retry Demo": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Call Unreliable API",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Call Unreliable API": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Reset Attempt Counter",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Count Attempt",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Count Attempt": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Retry Budget Left?",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Retry Budget Left?": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Wait 1 Minute",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Give Up and Alert",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Wait 1 Minute": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Call Unreliable API",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
},
"active": false,
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1",
"saveManualExecutions": true
},
"tags": []
}
Credentials you'll need
Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.
googleSheetsOAuth2ApitelegramApi
Pro
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About this workflow
05 · Error Handling & Retry Template. Uses errorTrigger, googleSheets, telegram, httpRequest. Event-driven trigger; 12 nodes.
Source: https://github.com/wanderfool95/n8n-ai-workflows/blob/main/workflows/05-error-handling-retry-template.json — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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