How to Stop Agent Loops Safely
Short answer
Safe loops define hard stop rules before execution: max iterations, budget caps, repeated failure limits, and human approval gates.
Why it matters
An agent that never stops can burn budget, thrash on the same error, or take an irreversible action. Stop conditions are not an afterthought — they are part of the loop design, decided before the agent starts.
Practical checklist
- Set a maximum iteration count
- Set a budget or token cap
- Stop after N repeated failures, not just on success
- Require human approval before merge, deploy, delete, purchase, or external communication
- Define what to report when stopping
Example
Stop rule: halt when validation passes, after 5 failed iterations, or when the per-run budget cap is hit — and always stop for human approval before merging.
Common failure modes
Only a success stop condition, none for failure
No budget cap on a scheduled loop
Irreversible actions taken without approval