diff --git a/desmod/component.py b/desmod/component.py
index c42bc1b0..74ed07a8 100644
--- a/desmod/component.py
+++ b/desmod/component.py
@@ -275,6 +275,23 @@ def elab_hook(self):
         """
         pass
 
+    def post_fail(self):
+        """Recursively run post-fail hooks."""
+        for child in self._children:
+            child.post_fail()
+        self.post_sim_fail_hook()
+
+    def post_sim_fail_hook(self):
+        """Hook called after simulation fails.
+
+        Component subclasses may override `post_sim_fail_hook()` to inject
+        behavior in case the simulation fails. Note that
+        `post_sim_fail_hook()` will not be called when simulation is
+        successful. Instead, :meth:`post_sim_hook` method will be called.
+
+        """
+        pass
+
     def post_simulate(self):
         """Recursively run post-simulation hooks."""
         for child in self._children:
diff --git a/desmod/simulation.py b/desmod/simulation.py
index 367a5c26..15101415 100644
--- a/desmod/simulation.py
+++ b/desmod/simulation.py
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ def simulate(config, top_type, env_type=SimEnvironment, reraise=True,
                     top_type.pre_init(env)
                     env.tracemgr.flush()
                     with progress_manager(env):
+                        _dump_dict(config_file, config)
                         top = top_type(parent=None, env=env)
                         top.elaborate()
                         env.tracemgr.flush()
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ def simulate(config, top_type, env_type=SimEnvironment, reraise=True,
                 except BaseException as e:
                     env.tracemgr.trace_exception()
                     result['sim.exception'] = repr(e)
+                    top.post_fail()
                     raise
                 else:
                     result['sim.exception'] = None
@@ -192,7 +194,6 @@ def simulate(config, top_type, env_type=SimEnvironment, reraise=True,
                     result['sim.now'] = env.now
                     result['sim.time'] = env.time()
                     result['sim.runtime'] = timeit.default_timer() - t0
-                    _dump_dict(config_file, config)
                     _dump_dict(result_file, result)
     except BaseException as e:
         if reraise: