What’s a trigger loop?

A trigger loop is a circular automation pattern:

How loops form: Automation A's action triggers Automation B. Automation B's action triggers Automation A. Each cycle generates more sends. Volume multiplies rapidly.

Common loop patterns: Welcome email triggers engagement automation. Engagement automation triggers welcome variation. CRM update triggers ESP automation. ESP event triggers CRM automation that triggers ESP.

Consequences: Recipients receive flood of emails. Reputation damaged quickly. System resources consumed. Manual intervention required to stop.

Prevention: Map all automation trigger relationships. Implement loop detection (max iterations). Use unique event IDs to prevent reprocessing. Test automation interactions before launch.

Loops emerge from interactions that seem fine individually. Only system-level view reveals the danger.