I’m on n8n Cloud and experiencing an issue where any workflow using a production webhook fails immediately with the error:
External hook “workflow.preExecute” failed
This happens consistently across all workflows — even newly created, minimal ones that contain only a webhook and a single Set node. However, the test webhook URL (/webhook-test/...) works perfectly when the workflow is open in the editor.
What is the error message (if any)?
External hook “workflow.preExecute” failed
Please share your workflow
json
{
“nodes”: [
{
“parameters”: {
“httpMethod”: “POST”,
“path”: “test-clean”
},
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.webhook”,
“typeVersion”: 2,
“position”: [300, 300],
“name”: “Webhook”
},
{
“parameters”: {
“values”: {
“string”: [
{
“name”: “message”,
“value”: “Test passed”
}
]
},
“options”: {}
},
“name”: “Set”,
“type”: “n8n-nodes-base.set”,
“typeVersion”: 1,
“position”: [500, 300]
}
],
“connections”: {
“Webhook”: {
“main”: [
[
{
“node”: “Set”,
“type”: “main”,
“index”: 0
}
]
]
}
},
“active”: true,
“name”: “Test Webhook Production Fail”
}
## Share the output returned by the last node
The workflow doesn't even reach the first node in production mode.
The webhook fails with a 500 error and the following message:
External hook "workflow.preExecute" failed
Information on your n8n setup
- n8n version:
1.39.0(or whatever the latest is on Cloud) - Database (default: SQLite): Cloud-managed (default)
- n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main): default
- Running n8n via: n8n Cloud (hosted)
- Operating system: n/a (Cloud)