diff --git a/watcher/applier/workflow_engine/default.py b/watcher/applier/workflow_engine/default.py
index 8c4950c16..157cb9848 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/workflow_engine/default.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/workflow_engine/default.py
@@ -127,8 +127,10 @@ class TaskFlowActionContainer(base.BaseTaskFlowActionContainer):
             return self.engine.notify(self._db_action,
                                       objects.action.State.SUCCEEDED)
         else:
-            return self.engine.notify(self._db_action,
-                                      objects.action.State.FAILED)
+            self.engine.notify(self._db_action,
+                               objects.action.State.FAILED)
+            raise exception.ActionExecutionFailure(
+                action_id=self._db_action.uuid)
 
     def do_post_execute(self):
         LOG.debug("Post-condition action: %s", self.name)
diff --git a/watcher/common/exception.py b/watcher/common/exception.py
index dabfae897..3eb36b251 100644
--- a/watcher/common/exception.py
+++ b/watcher/common/exception.py
@@ -435,6 +435,10 @@ class ActionDescriptionNotFound(ResourceNotFound):
     msg_fmt = _("The action description %(action_id)s cannot be found.")
 
 
+class ActionExecutionFailure(WatcherException):
+    msg_fmt = _("The action %(action_id)s execution failed.")
+
+
 # Model
 
 class ComputeResourceNotFound(WatcherException):
diff --git a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
index fdf902c0b..b4f10041b 100644
--- a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
+++ b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class FakeAction(abase.BaseAction):
         pass
 
     def execute(self):
-        raise ExpectedException()
+        return False
 
     def get_description(self):
         return "fake action, just for test"
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ class TestDefaultWorkFlowEngine(base.DbTestCase):
         exc = self.assertRaises(exception.WorkflowExecutionException,
                                 self.engine.execute, actions)
 
-        self.assertIsInstance(exc.kwargs['error'], ExpectedException)
+        self.assertIsInstance(exc.kwargs['error'],
+                              exception.ActionExecutionFailure)
         self.check_action_state(actions[0], objects.action.State.FAILED)
 
     @mock.patch.object(objects.ActionPlan, "get_by_uuid")
diff --git a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_taskflow_action_container.py b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_taskflow_action_container.py
index 4139abbd7..e591a6b06 100644
--- a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_taskflow_action_container.py
+++ b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_taskflow_action_container.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import mock
 
 from watcher.applier.workflow_engine import default as tflow
 from watcher.common import clients
+from watcher.common import exception
 from watcher.common import nova_helper
 from watcher import objects
 from watcher.tests.db import base
@@ -79,7 +80,9 @@ class TestTaskFlowActionContainer(base.DbTestCase):
         action_container = tflow.TaskFlowActionContainer(
             db_action=action,
             engine=self.engine)
-        action_container.execute()
+
+        self.assertRaises(exception.ActionExecutionFailure,
+                          action_container.execute, action_id=action.uuid)
 
         self.assertTrue(action.state, objects.action.State.FAILED)