---
title: "Compensation Actions"
description: "Every step in a saga has a compensation action — the \"undo\" that runs if a later step fails. When adding a step, specify its compensation: 1. Make compensations idempotent — They might run more than once 2. Log everythin"
resource: https://www.aiagents.nexus/docs/manual/sagas/compensation-actions
generated: { by: "process:nexus-agent-assets", at: 2026-09-07T09:13:03Z }
status: stable
---

# Saga Compensation Actions

Every step in a saga has a compensation action — the "undo" that runs if a later step fails.

## How Compensation Works

```
Forward execution:
  Step 1 ✓ → Step 2 ✓ → Step 3 ✗ (fails)

Compensation (reverse order):
  Compensate 2 ✓ → Compensate 1 ✓

Result: System returned to original state
```

## Defining Compensations

When adding a step, specify its compensation:

```bash
naos saga add-step order-saga charge-payment --compensate refund-payment
```

## Example: E-Commerce Order

```yaml
sagas:
  order-fulfillment:
    steps:
      - name: reserve-inventory
        agent: inventory-reserve
        compensate: inventory-release     # Undo: release the reserved items

      - name: charge-payment
        agent: payment-charge
        compensate: payment-refund        # Undo: refund the charge

      - name: ship-order
        agent: shipping-create
        compensate: shipping-cancel       # Undo: cancel shipment
```

## Scenarios

### All Steps Succeed
```
reserve ✓ → charge ✓ → ship ✓
Result: Order fulfilled, no compensation needed
```

### Step 3 Fails
```
reserve ✓ → charge ✓ → ship ✗
Compensate: refund ✓ → release ✓
Result: Customer refunded, inventory released
```

### Step 2 Fails
```
reserve ✓ → charge ✗
Compensate: release ✓
Result: Inventory released, no charge to refund
```

## Compensation Best Practices

1. **Make compensations idempotent** — They might run more than once
2. **Log everything** — You need to trace what was undone
3. **Test compensations** — They're as important as the forward steps
4. **Handle partial states** — Compensations should work even if the forward step partially completed