ENGINEERING

Quarantine Flaky CI Tests and File a Linear Issue

When a GitHub Actions run fails, detects tests that pass on retry, tags them with a quarantine annotation.

CategoryEngineering
Enginesim
Difficultyintermediate
Triggerwebhook
Steps5
Setup~15 min

How it runs

The automated pipeline, trigger to output.

  • TriggerGitHub Actions workflow run completesGitHubGitHub
  • LogicDetect tests that failed attempt 1 but passed on retry
  • LogicExit if no retry-masked flake found
  • ActionLabel PR flaky-quarantine and comment with run linkGitHubGitHub
  • OutputCreate Linear issue tagged flaky-test with ownerLinearLinear

What it does

Catches the specific failure pattern where a test fails on the first attempt of a CI run but passes on automatic retry — the signature of a flaky test. It marks the offending test as quarantined and files a tracking issue in Linear so the flake gets owned and fixed rather than ignored.

When to use it

Use it when your team relies on CI retries to stay green and flaky tests are slipping through unnoticed. It turns every retry-masked flake into a visible, assigned work item.

How it works

  1. 1A GitHub Actions workflow run completes and fires a webhook with the conclusion and job attempts.
  2. 2A logic step inspects the job attempts: keep only tests that failed on attempt 1 and passed on a later attempt.
  3. 3If no retry-masked flake is found, the run exits quietly.
  4. 4For each flake, an action calls the GitHub API to add a `flaky-quarantine` label and comment on the originating PR.
  5. 5A final action creates a Linear issue titled with the test name, owning team, and a link back to the failed run, tagged `flaky-test`.

Set it up

What you configure once, before turning it on.

  1. 1
    Connect GitHubRepos, issues, pull requests, actions.
  2. 2
    Connect LinearIssues, projects, cycles, triage.
  3. 3
    Set each agent's modelWe leave models unset so you pick the tier — fast + cheap, or top-quality.
  4. 4
    Tune it to your dataEdit the prompts, filters, and field mappings so it matches how your team works.
  5. 5
    Test, then turn it onRun once against a sample, confirm the output, then enable the trigger.

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