diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/handle-failed-actions-cac0abd02ed67a51.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/handle-failed-actions-cac0abd02ed67a51.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7765f889c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/handle-failed-actions-cac0abd02ed67a51.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - The result of Mistral actions will now be checked, and if they've failed,
+    an exception will be raised. See
+    https://bugs.launchpad.net/tripleo/+bug/1686811
diff --git a/tripleoclient/exceptions.py b/tripleoclient/exceptions.py
index 58f08742d..a87988fcc 100644
--- a/tripleoclient/exceptions.py
+++ b/tripleoclient/exceptions.py
@@ -78,3 +78,12 @@ class PlanCreationError(Exception):
 
 class PlanExportError(Exception):
     """Plan export failed"""
+
+
+class WorkflowActionError(Exception):
+    """Workflow action failed"""
+    msg_format = "Action {} execution failed: {}"
+
+    def __init__(self, message, action='', output=''):
+        message = message.format(action, output)
+        super(WorkflowActionError, self).__init__(message)
diff --git a/tripleoclient/tests/workflows/test_base.py b/tripleoclient/tests/workflows/test_base.py
index c2961336a..c1248b313 100644
--- a/tripleoclient/tests/workflows/test_base.py
+++ b/tripleoclient/tests/workflows/test_base.py
@@ -58,3 +58,25 @@ class TestBaseWorkflows(utils.TestCommand):
 
         self.assertTrue(mistral.executions.get.called)
         websocket.wait_for_messages.assert_called_with(timeout=None)
+
+    def test_call_action_success(self):
+        mistral = mock.Mock()
+        action = 'test-action'
+
+        result = mock.Mock()
+        result.output = '{"result":"test-result"}'
+        mistral.action_executions.create = mock.Mock(return_value=result)
+
+        self.assertEqual(base.call_action(mistral, action), "test-result")
+
+    def test_call_action_fail(self):
+        mistral = mock.Mock()
+        action = 'test-action'
+
+        result = mock.Mock()
+        result.output = '{"result":"test-result"}'
+        result.state = 'ERROR'
+        mistral.action_executions.create = mock.Mock(return_value=result)
+
+        self.assertRaises(exceptions.WorkflowActionError,
+                          base.call_action, mistral, action)
diff --git a/tripleoclient/workflows/base.py b/tripleoclient/workflows/base.py
index 7f91796b5..7592a69fc 100644
--- a/tripleoclient/workflows/base.py
+++ b/tripleoclient/workflows/base.py
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ def call_action(workflow_client, action, **input_):
         save_result=True, run_sync=True)
 
     # Parse the JSON output. Mistral client should do this for us really.
-    return json.loads(result.output)['result']
+    output = json.loads(result.output)['result']
+
+    if result.state == 'ERROR':
+        raise exceptions.WorkflowActionError(action, output)
+    return output
 
 
 def start_workflow(workflow_client, identifier, workflow_input):