♾️ The "Runaway Train" Workflow

It starts with a simple Slack message from your boss.

"Why did I just get 20 email notifications in the last 2 minutes?"

Your blood runs cold. You check HubSpot.

A workflow called "Update Lead Status" has enrolled the same contact 5,000 times in an hour. It is firing triggers, sending emails, and pinging Slack in an endless, rapid-fire loop.

This is the Infinite Loop. It is the RevOps equivalent of a nuclear meltdown.

• It destroys your email deliverability (Spam filters block you).
• It breaks your API limits (Integrations crash).
• It annoys your customers (and your boss).

HubSpot has some built-in safeguards, but a "creative" admin can bypass them easily.

Here is the diagnostic to finding the loop and the "Kill Switch" you need to build.

🩺 Diagnostic 1: The "Self-Reflexive" Trigger

The Logic Flaw: The Trigger causes the Action, which causes the Trigger again.

Trigger: Lead Status is "Open." -> Re-enrollment ON.

Action: Update Lead Status to "Open" (to ensure consistency).

The Loop: The workflow sees the property update. It triggers again. It updates it again. Repeat forever.

The Fix: "Property Changed" Filter.

Add a condition: Lead Status is "Open" AND Lead Status has been updated in last 1 day.

Or simpler: Don't allow re-enrollment for the same property you are updating.

🩺 Diagnostic 2: The "Duel" (Two Workflows Fighting)

The Logic Flaw: Workflow A and Workflow B disagree.

Workflow A: If Score > 50, set Stage to "MQL."

Workflow B: If Stage is "MQL" but Region is blank, set Stage back to "Lead."

The Loop: A > B > A > B. The contact bounces back and forth 100 times a minute.

The Fix: Consolidation.

Don't have two workflows managing the same property (Lifecycle Stage).

Combine them into One Master Workflow with If/Then branches. Logic must flow in one direction (downstream), never upstream.

🩺 Diagnostic 3: The "Integration" Echo

The Logic Flaw: HubSpot updates Salesforce. Salesforce updates HubSpot.

HubSpot: Updates First Name. Pushes to SFDC.

Salesforce: Sees "Edit." Pushes back to HubSpot.

HubSpot: Sees "Edit." Triggers Workflow "Data Cleanse." Pushes to SFDC.

The Fix: Integration User Exclusion.

In your HubSpot Workflow triggers, add a filter:

AND "Original Source Data 2" is NOT "Salesforce Integration".

This stops the workflow from firing on updates made by the integration itself.

🛑 The "Kill Switch" Protocol

You cannot prevent every bug. But you can contain the explosion.

1. The "Safety Counter" Property

Create a custom number property: Workflow_Run_Count.

In your dangerous workflow, add Step 1: Increase Workflow_Run_Count by +1.

In your Trigger, add: AND Workflow_Run_Count is less than 5.

Result: It can only loop 5 times before it auto-stops.

2. The "Suppress List"

Create a Static List: "Emergency Suppression."

Add this list as an Unenrollment Trigger to every major workflow.

The Fire Drill: If a loop starts, simply dump the contacts (or the whole database) into this list. It stops everything instantly.

Don't Be a Cowboy.

Infinite loops happen when we get lazy with Re-Enrollment Triggers.

We check the box "Allow re-enrollment" because it's easier than building a new workflow. That box is dangerous.

Respect the loop.

Not sure if your automation is safe?