Common Issues in Workflows

This guide covers common issues you might encounter when building and running workflows in MindPal.

Workflow Structure Issues

1. Multiple Starting Points

Issue: Your workflow won't run and shows an error about the starting point.

Cause: A workflow must have exactly one starting point - a node with no incoming connections. If you have multiple nodes without incoming edges, the workflow doesn't know where to begin.

Solution:

1. Review your workflow in the builder
2. Ensure only one node (typically a Human Input node) has no incoming connections
3. Connect any floating nodes to the main workflow chain

2. Disconnected Nodes

Issue: Some steps in your workflow are skipped during execution.

Cause: Nodes that aren't connected to the main flow won't execute.

Solution:

1. Check that all nodes are properly connected
2. Look for missing edges between nodes
3. Use the workflow preview to trace the execution path

3. Circular Dependencies

Issue: Workflow enters an infinite loop or fails with a dependency error.

Cause: A node references output from a node that comes after it, or nodes reference each other.

Solution:

1. Review variable references in each node
2. Ensure variables only reference nodes that execute BEFORE the current node
3. Reorganize the workflow to eliminate circular references

Variable Issues

4. Variables Not Working

Issue: Variables show as plain text instead of being replaced with values.

Symptoms:

• You see {{Variable Name}} in the output instead of the actual value
• Agent responses mention the variable name literally

Solutions:

1. Check variable highlighting - Properly configured variables appear in purple
2. Use the variable picker - Click the "+" button to insert variables correctly
3. Avoid manual typing - Don't type variable syntax manually; always use the picker
4. Verify variable exists - The referenced node must exist and have output

5. Variable Contains Wrong Data

Issue: The variable value isn't what you expected.

Solutions:

1. Check the source node - Review what that node actually outputs
2. Test the source node independently - Run the workflow in supervised mode to inspect each step
3. Verify the correct field - Human Input nodes may have multiple fields

Node Execution Issues

6. Agent Node Produces Poor Results

Issue: The agent within a workflow step gives unsatisfactory output.

Solutions:

1. Improve the prompt:

   • Be specific about what you want
   • Include context from previous steps using variables
   • Provide examples of expected output

2. Use a better model:

   • For complex tasks: Claude 4.5 Sonnet, GPT-5
   • For reasoning: o3, o4 Mini

3. Assign a specialized agent:

   • Instead of using a blank/default agent, select one with appropriate system instructions and knowledge

7. Loop Node Processing Wrong Items

Issue: The loop doesn't iterate over the expected items.

Solutions:

1. Verify the list source prompt - Ensure it correctly extracts items from the source
2. Check the source format - The AI needs clear, separable items
3. Set appropriate max item count - Start small (3-5) for testing
4. Use explicit formatting in the list source:

   Extract each product name from {{Previous Output}}, one per line.

8. Router Node Takes Wrong Path

Issue: The workflow goes down an unexpected branch.

Solutions:

1. Review routing logic - Make conditions clearer and more specific
2. Add explicit criteria in the prompt:

   If the sentiment is POSITIVE, choose path 1.
   If the sentiment is NEGATIVE, choose path 2.
   Otherwise, choose path 3.
3. Test with various inputs to verify all paths work correctly

9. Gate Node Blocks Unexpectedly

Issue: The Gate Node stops the workflow when it shouldn't, or continues when it should stop.

Solutions:

1. Clarify the stopping condition:

   Return TRUE (stop) if the input is empty or contains profanity.
   Return FALSE (continue) if the input is valid text.
2. Use a smarter model for nuanced condition evaluation
3. Test edge cases with various input types

API and Trigger Issues

10. API Trigger Not Working

Issue: The workflow doesn't run when triggered via API.

Solutions:

1. Verify API format - Match the exact schema in your workflow's API Reference tab
2. Check authentication - Ensure your API key is valid and included
3. Validate JSON syntax - Use a JSON validator to check your request body
4. Check field names - Names are case-sensitive

11. Webhook Node Fails to Send

Issue: The Webhook Node shows failed status.

Solutions:

1. Verify the URL - Ensure it's correct and accessible
2. Check endpoint availability - Test with a tool like Postman
3. Review authentication - Add required headers
4. Check payload format - Some endpoints require specific formats

12. Scheduled Trigger Doesn't Fire

Issue: Workflows don't run at the scheduled time.

Solutions:

1. Verify schedule configuration - Check timezone settings
2. Ensure workflow is published - Unpublished workflows won't trigger
3. Check your plan - Scheduled triggers require paid plans

Performance and Credit Issues

13. High Credit Consumption

Issue: Workflows use more credits than expected.

Solutions:

1. Use efficient models:

   • Gemini 2.5 Flash (1 credit)
   • DeepSeek (0.5 credits)

2. Optimize workflow structure:

   • Combine steps where possible
   • Use Gate Nodes to stop early for invalid inputs
   • Set reasonable max items for Loop Nodes

3. Monitor credit usage:

   • Check the credit estimate in the workflow builder
   • Review actual consumption in completed runs

14. Workflow Times Out

Issue: Long-running workflows fail or timeout.

Solutions:

1. Break into smaller workflows - Use Subflow Nodes for complex processes
2. Reduce loop iterations - Process fewer items per run
3. Use Background Mode - For long workflows that don't need real-time results
4. Optimize prompts - Shorter, more focused prompts execute faster

Debugging Tips

Using Supervised Mode

1. Run the workflow in Supervised Mode
2. Review output at each step before proceeding
3. Edit or regenerate any problematic step
4. Identify exactly where issues occur

Reading Error Messages

Error messages typically indicate:

• Node name - Which step failed
• Error type - What went wrong (context length, API error, etc.)
• Suggested fix - How to resolve the issue

Testing Incrementally

1. Start with a simple workflow (2-3 nodes)
2. Verify each node works correctly
3. Add nodes one at a time
4. Test after each addition

Getting More Help

If these solutions don't resolve your issue:

1. Check the agent common issues for agent-specific problems
2. Review the API documentation (opens in a new tab) for API issues
3. Join our Facebook Community (opens in a new tab) to ask questions
4. Contact support at support@mindpal.io