gistfile1.txt

$ cat mystate.sls
Failed state:
  test.fail_without_changes

Ok state:
  test.succeed_without_changes

Main state:
  cmd.run:
    - name: uname
    - require:
      - test: Ok state
    - onfail:
      - test: Failed state

$ .. state.apply mystate
myminion:
----------
          ID: Failed state
    Function: test.fail_without_changes
      Result: False
     Comment: Failure!
     Started: 11:55:40.201431
    Duration: 0.942 ms
     Changes:   
----------
          ID: Ok state
    Function: test.succeed_without_changes
      Result: True
     Comment: Success!
     Started: 11:55:40.202651
    Duration: 0.881 ms
     Changes:   
----------
          ID: Main state
    Function: cmd.run
        Name: uname
      Result: True
     Comment: Command "uname" run
     Started: 11:55:40.205042
    Duration: 29.764 ms
     Changes:   
              ----------
              pid:
                  5442
              retcode:
                  0
              stderr:
              stdout:
                  Linux

Summary for myminion
------------
Succeeded: 2 (changed=1)
Failed:    1

This is expected, now I will make "Failed state" to not fail.

 Failed state:
-  test.fail_without_changes
+  test.succeed_without_changes

I would expect Main state to not be executed (because onfail condition is not matched), this is not the case though:

$ .. state.apply mystate
myminion:
----------
          ID: Failed state
    Function: test.succeed_without_changes
      Result: True
     Comment: Success!
     Started: 11:58:36.271334
    Duration: 0.998 ms
     Changes:   
----------
          ID: Ok state
    Function: test.succeed_without_changes
      Result: True
     Comment: Success!
     Started: 11:58:36.272601
    Duration: 0.665 ms
     Changes:   
----------
          ID: Main state
    Function: cmd.run
        Name: uname
      Result: True
     Comment: Command "uname" run
     Started: 11:58:36.275573
    Duration: 24.221 ms
     Changes:   
              ----------
              pid:
                  6484
              retcode:
                  0
              stderr:
              stdout:
                  Linux

Summary for myminion
------------
Succeeded: 3 (changed=1)
Failed:    0