Enoch George's Blog

When Make.com Breaks: Mastering Error Handling and Rate Limits Like a Pro

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Enoch George Muller
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3 min read

Learn how to handle Make.com errors and rate limits with ease and keep your automations running smoothly!

Ever had your Make.com automations break at the worst possible time? 😱 Let's fix that and turn your error-prone scenarios into bulletproof workflows!

I'm diving into the final crucial piece you need to master Make.com: error handling and rate limits. If you've ever had your automations fail when you needed them most, this guide is for you. Let's dive in!

The Make.com Error Handling Blueprint

When it comes to production-ready workflows—those that keep your business running and revenue flowing—reliability is non-negotiable. Here’s how to make sure your automations don’t let you down.

The Break Module: Your New Best Friend

Anytime you’re calling a third-party API, there’s a chance it might fail. Maybe the service is down, maybe you hit a rate limit, or maybe the API just doesn’t feel like working that day. The solution? The Break module.

How It Works:

  • Add a Break Module: Drop it right before any API call.

  • Configure Attempts and Intervals: Set how many times to retry and how long to wait between attempts. I usually go with three attempts and 15-minute intervals.

Example:

  1. Setup: Allow storing of incomplete executions in your scenario settings.

  2. Add Break Module: Place it above every API call.

  3. Configure: Set your number of attempts and interval between attempts.

Here’s a quick example with ClickUp API:

markdownCopy code1. Add a "Get Task" module from ClickUp.
2. Place a Break module above it.
3. Set attempts to 3 and interval to 15 minutes.

This simple setup can save you from countless headaches and keep your workflows running smoothly.

Advanced Error Handling with Hookdeck

For high-volume or sensitive operations, Hookdeck is a game-changer. Think of it as a traffic cop for your webhooks, managing the flow and ensuring nothing gets lost in the chaos.

Why Hookdeck?

  • Transform and Filter Data: Modify incoming data before it hits Make.com.

  • Delay Requests: Hold data for a specified time before forwarding.

  • Exponential Retries: Retry failed requests using an exponential backoff strategy.

Getting Started:

  1. Sign Up: Head over to Hookdeck and create an account.

  2. Create a Source and Destination: Set up your webhook endpoints.

  3. Configure Rules: Add transformations, delays, or retry logic as needed.

Example Setup:

markdownCopy code1. Create a new source in Hookdeck with your Make.com webhook URL.
2. Add a delay rule to hold requests for 5 seconds.
3. Send a test request to Hookdeck and verify it arrives in Make.com after the delay.

Practical Tips for Error-Free Automations

  1. Monitor Your Scenarios: Regularly check the incomplete executions tab.

  2. Use Break Modules Liberally: Place them above every critical API call.

  3. Leverage Hookdeck for High-Volume Tasks: It’s especially useful for handling spikes in traffic or ensuring smooth delays.

Conclusion

By mastering error handling and rate limits in Make.com, you can ensure your automations are robust and reliable. No more late-night panic attacks when an API decides to take a nap! 🚀

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill

Got questions or feedback? Drop a comment below! If you found this guide helpful, give it a like and share it with your network. Thanks for reading, and happy automating! 😊

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