diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/resources/application.conf b/common/scala/src/main/resources/application.conf
index ff5f8e2af91..6c69e11b293 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/resources/application.conf
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/resources/application.conf
@@ -438,10 +438,19 @@ whisk {
         #           uniqueName + displayName    253 (max pod name length in Kube)
         serdes-overhead = 6068 // 3034 bytes of metadata * 2 for extra headroom
 
+        # DEPRECATED, use store-blocking-result-level
         # Disables database store for blocking + successful activations
         # invocations made with `X-OW-EXTRA-LOGGING: on` header, will force the activation to be stored
         disable-store-result = false
 
+        # Result level to store in db for blocking activations (STORE_ALWAYS, STORE_FAILURES, STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS)
+        # invocations made with `X-OW-EXTRA-LOGGING: on` header, will force the activation to be stored
+        store-blocking-result-level = "STORE_ALWAYS"
+
+        # Result level to store in db for non-blocking activations (STORE_ALWAYS, STORE_FAILURES, STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS)
+        # invocations made with `X-OW-EXTRA-LOGGING: on` header, will force the activation to be stored
+        store-non-blocking-result-level = "STORE_ALWAYS"
+
         # Enable metadata logging of activations not stored in the database
         unstored-logs-enabled = false
     }
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/WhiskConfig.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/WhiskConfig.scala
index e50fbb4c473..2a6490b6007 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/WhiskConfig.scala
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/WhiskConfig.scala
@@ -286,7 +286,10 @@ object ConfigKeys {
   val sharedPackageExecuteOnly = s"whisk.shared-packages-execute-only"
   val swaggerUi = "whisk.swagger-ui"
 
+  /* DEPRECATED: disableStoreResult is deprecated for storeBlockingResultLevel */
   val disableStoreResult = s"$activation.disable-store-result"
+  val storeBlockingResultLevel = s"$activation.store-blocking-result-level"
+  val storeNonBlockingResultLevel = s"$activation.store-non-blocking-result-level"
   val unstoredLogsEnabled = s"$activation.unstored-logs-enabled"
 
   val apacheClientConfig = "whisk.apache-client"
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStore.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStore.scala
index 83651507b86..9981bff16f0 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStore.scala
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStore.scala
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 package org.apache.openwhisk.core.database
 
 import java.time.Instant
-
 import akka.actor.ActorSystem
 import akka.http.scaladsl.model.HttpRequest
 import spray.json.JsObject
@@ -33,8 +32,24 @@ import scala.concurrent.Future
 case class UserContext(user: Identity, request: HttpRequest = HttpRequest())
 
 trait ActivationStore {
+  val logging: Logging
 
+  /* DEPRECATED: disableStoreResult config is now deprecated replaced with blocking activation store level (storeBlockingResultLevel) */
   protected val disableStoreResultConfig = loadConfigOrThrow[Boolean](ConfigKeys.disableStoreResult)
+  protected val storeBlockingResultLevelConfig = {
+    try {
+      ActivationStoreLevel.valueOf(loadConfigOrThrow[String](ConfigKeys.storeBlockingResultLevel))
+    } catch {
+      case _: Exception =>
+        val disableStoreResultConfig = loadConfigOrThrow[Boolean](ConfigKeys.disableStoreResult)
+        logging.warn(
+          this,
+          s"The config ${ConfigKeys.disableStoreResult} being used is deprecated. Please use the replacement config ${ConfigKeys.storeBlockingResultLevel}")
+        if (disableStoreResultConfig) ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES else ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS
+    }
+  }
+  protected val storeNonBlockingResultLevelConfig =
+    ActivationStoreLevel.valueOf(loadConfigOrThrow[String](ConfigKeys.storeNonBlockingResultLevel))
   protected val unstoredLogsEnabledConfig = loadConfigOrThrow[Boolean](ConfigKeys.unstoredLogsEnabled)
 
   /**
@@ -42,6 +57,8 @@ trait ActivationStore {
    *
    * @param activation activation to store
    * @param isBlockingActivation is activation blocking
+   * @param blockingStoreLevel do not store activation if successful and blocking
+   * @param nonBlockingStoreLevel do not store activation if successful and non-blocking
    * @param context user and request context
    * @param transid transaction ID for request
    * @param notifier cache change notifier
@@ -49,16 +66,18 @@ trait ActivationStore {
    */
   def storeAfterCheck(activation: WhiskActivation,
                       isBlockingActivation: Boolean,
-                      disableStore: Option[Boolean],
+                      blockingStoreLevel: Option[ActivationStoreLevel.Value],
+                      nonBlockingStoreLevel: Option[ActivationStoreLevel.Value],
                       context: UserContext)(implicit transid: TransactionId,
                                             notifier: Option[CacheChangeNotification],
                                             logging: Logging): Future[DocInfo] = {
     if (context.user.limits.storeActivations.getOrElse(true) &&
         shouldStoreActivation(
-          activation.response.isSuccess,
+          activation.response,
           isBlockingActivation,
           transid.meta.extraLogging,
-          disableStore.getOrElse(disableStoreResultConfig))) {
+          blockingStoreLevel.getOrElse(storeBlockingResultLevelConfig),
+          nonBlockingStoreLevel.getOrElse(storeNonBlockingResultLevelConfig))) {
 
       store(activation, context)
     } else {
@@ -183,17 +202,29 @@ trait ActivationStore {
    * - an activation in debug mode
    * - activation stores is not disabled via a configuration parameter
    *
-   * @param isSuccess is successful activation
+   * @param activationResponse to check
    * @param isBlocking is blocking activation
    * @param debugMode is logging header set to "on" for the invocation
-   * @param disableStore is disable store configured
+   * @param blockingStoreLevel level of activation status to store for blocking invocations
+   * @param nonBlockingStoreLevel level of activation status to store for blocking invocations
    * @return Should the activation be stored to the database
    */
-  private def shouldStoreActivation(isSuccess: Boolean,
+  private def shouldStoreActivation(activationResponse: ActivationResponse,
                                     isBlocking: Boolean,
                                     debugMode: Boolean,
-                                    disableStore: Boolean): Boolean = {
-    !isSuccess || !isBlocking || debugMode || !disableStore
+                                    blockingStoreLevel: ActivationStoreLevel.Value,
+                                    nonBlockingStoreLevel: ActivationStoreLevel.Value): Boolean = {
+    def shouldStoreOnLevel(storageLevel: ActivationStoreLevel.Value): Boolean = {
+      storageLevel match {
+        case ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS   => true
+        case ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES => !activationResponse.isSuccess
+        case ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS =>
+          activationResponse.isContainerError || activationResponse.isWhiskError
+      }
+    }
+
+    debugMode || (isBlocking && shouldStoreOnLevel(blockingStoreLevel)) || (!isBlocking && shouldStoreOnLevel(
+      nonBlockingStoreLevel))
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStoreLevel.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStoreLevel.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7f37906987a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ActivationStoreLevel.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+ * contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
+ * The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ * the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.apache.openwhisk.core.database
+
+object ActivationStoreLevel extends Enumeration {
+  type ActivationStoreLevel = Value
+  val STORE_ALWAYS, STORE_FAILURES, STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS = Value
+
+  def valueOf(value: String): Value = {
+    values
+      .find(_.toString == value.toUpperCase())
+      .getOrElse(throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Invalid log level: $value"))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ArtifactActivationStore.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ArtifactActivationStore.scala
index 1e2ab886da1..9b62f728824 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ArtifactActivationStore.scala
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/ArtifactActivationStore.scala
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity._
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 import scala.util.{Failure, Success}
 
-class ArtifactActivationStore(actorSystem: ActorSystem, logging: Logging) extends ActivationStore {
+class ArtifactActivationStore(actorSystem: ActorSystem, override val logging: Logging) extends ActivationStore {
 
   implicit val executionContext = actorSystem.dispatcher
 
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/elasticsearch/ElasticSearchActivationStore.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/elasticsearch/ElasticSearchActivationStore.scala
index 39f5a0cae23..50504263f90 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/elasticsearch/ElasticSearchActivationStore.scala
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/elasticsearch/ElasticSearchActivationStore.scala
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ case class ElasticSearchActivationStoreConfig(protocol: String,
 class ElasticSearchActivationStore(
   httpFlow: Option[Flow[(HttpRequest, Promise[HttpResponse]), (Try[HttpResponse], Promise[HttpResponse]), Any]] = None,
   elasticSearchConfig: ElasticSearchActivationStoreConfig,
-  useBatching: Boolean = false)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem, logging: Logging)
+  useBatching: Boolean = false)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem, override val logging: Logging)
     extends ActivationStore {
 
   import com.sksamuel.elastic4s.http.ElasticDsl._
diff --git a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/memory/NoopActivationStore.scala b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/memory/NoopActivationStore.scala
index 7b50685891a..8d45ff02fc0 100644
--- a/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/memory/NoopActivationStore.scala
+++ b/common/scala/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/database/memory/NoopActivationStore.scala
@@ -18,21 +18,16 @@
 package org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.memory
 
 import java.time.Instant
-
 import akka.actor.ActorSystem
-import org.apache.openwhisk.common.{Logging, TransactionId, WhiskInstants}
-import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{
-  ActivationStore,
-  ActivationStoreProvider,
-  CacheChangeNotification,
-  UserContext
-}
+import org.apache.openwhisk.common.{Logging, PrintStreamLogging, TransactionId, WhiskInstants}
+import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{ActivationStore, ActivationStoreProvider, CacheChangeNotification, UserContext}
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity.{ActivationId, DocInfo, EntityName, EntityPath, Subject, WhiskActivation}
 import spray.json.{JsNumber, JsObject}
 
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 
 object NoopActivationStore extends ActivationStore with WhiskInstants {
+  override val logging = new PrintStreamLogging()
   private val emptyInfo = DocInfo("foo")
   private val emptyCount = JsObject("activations" -> JsNumber(0))
   private val dummyActivation = WhiskActivation(
diff --git a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/Triggers.scala b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/Triggers.scala
index c70caee1705..57510993a56 100644
--- a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/Triggers.scala
+++ b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/Triggers.scala
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ trait WhiskTriggersApi extends WhiskCollectionAPI {
                     triggerActivation
                 }
                 .map { activation =>
-                  activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, false, None, context)
+                  activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, false, None, None, context)
                 }
 
               respondWithActivationIdHeader(triggerActivationId) {
diff --git a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/PrimitiveActions.scala b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/PrimitiveActions.scala
index 621a10e2f19..19ca12e9f03 100644
--- a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/PrimitiveActions.scala
+++ b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/PrimitiveActions.scala
@@ -600,7 +600,10 @@ protected[actions] trait PrimitiveActions {
       }
     }
 
-    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, blockingComposition, None, context)(transid, notifier = None, logging)
+    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, blockingComposition, None, None, context)(
+      transid,
+      notifier = None,
+      logging)
 
     activation
   }
diff --git a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/SequenceActions.scala b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/SequenceActions.scala
index 619ccdbd83b..0bc082bf35b 100644
--- a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/SequenceActions.scala
+++ b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/actions/SequenceActions.scala
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ protected[actions] trait SequenceActions {
             }
           }
 
-          activationStore.storeAfterCheck(seqActivation, blockingSequence, None, context)(
+          activationStore.storeAfterCheck(seqActivation, blockingSequence, None, None, context)(
             transid,
             notifier = None,
             logging)
diff --git a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/loadBalancer/FPCPoolBalancer.scala b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/loadBalancer/FPCPoolBalancer.scala
index 37c9ffb4a04..2280ce76534 100644
--- a/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/loadBalancer/FPCPoolBalancer.scala
+++ b/core/controller/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/loadBalancer/FPCPoolBalancer.scala
@@ -366,7 +366,8 @@ class FPCPoolBalancer(config: WhiskConfig,
           // and complete the promise with a failure if necessary
           activationPromises
             .remove(aid)
-            .foreach(_.tryFailure(new Throwable("Activation entry has timed out, no completion or active ack received yet")))
+            .foreach(
+              _.tryFailure(new Throwable("Activation entry has timed out, no completion or active ack received yet")))
         }
 
       // Active acks that are received here are strictly from user actions - health actions are not part of
diff --git a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/FPCInvokerReactive.scala b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/FPCInvokerReactive.scala
index 8a0fdc4720f..8158fd3ab27 100644
--- a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/FPCInvokerReactive.scala
+++ b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/FPCInvokerReactive.scala
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class FPCInvokerReactive(config: WhiskConfig,
   /** Stores an activation in the database. */
   private val store = (tid: TransactionId, activation: WhiskActivation, isBlocking: Boolean, context: UserContext) => {
     implicit val transid: TransactionId = tid
-    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, isBlocking, None, context)(tid, notifier = None, logging)
+    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, isBlocking, None, None, context)(tid, notifier = None, logging)
   }
 
   private def healthActivationClientFactory(f: ActorRefFactory,
diff --git a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/InvokerReactive.scala b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/InvokerReactive.scala
index f2d36b144aa..e32ece2fce8 100644
--- a/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/InvokerReactive.scala
+++ b/core/invoker/src/main/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/invoker/InvokerReactive.scala
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class InvokerReactive(
   /** Stores an activation in the database. */
   private val store = (tid: TransactionId, activation: WhiskActivation, isBlocking: Boolean, context: UserContext) => {
     implicit val transid: TransactionId = tid
-    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, isBlocking, None, context)(tid, notifier = None, logging)
+    activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, isBlocking, None, None, context)(tid, notifier = None, logging)
   }
 
   /** Creates a ContainerProxy Actor when being called. */
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests.scala
index 962b5da87d8..cc391a18631 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests.scala
@@ -18,14 +18,13 @@
 package org.apache.openwhisk.core.controller.test
 
 import java.time.Instant
-
 import akka.http.scaladsl.marshallers.sprayjson.SprayJsonSupport.sprayJsonUnmarshaller
 import akka.http.scaladsl.model.StatusCodes._
 import akka.http.scaladsl.model.headers.RawHeader
 import akka.http.scaladsl.server.Route
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.controller.WhiskActionsApi
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.controller.actions.ControllerActivationConfig
-import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.UserContext
+import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{ActivationStoreLevel, UserContext}
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity._
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith
 import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitRunner
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ class ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskAction
     // storing the activation in the db will allow the db polling to retrieve it
     // the test harness makes sure the activation id observed by the test matches
     // the one generated by the api handler
-    storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+    storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
     try {
       Post(s"$collectionPath/${action.name}?blocking=true") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ class ActionsApiWithDbPollingTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskAction
     // storing the activation in the db will allow the db polling to retrieve it
     // the test harness makes sure the activation id observed by the test matches
     // the one generated by the api handler
-    storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+    storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
     try {
       Post(s"$collectionPath/${action.name}?blocking=true") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(InternalServerError)
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActivationsApiTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActivationsApiTests.scala
index a24339718d3..5e266ddb4c2 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActivationsApiTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ActivationsApiTests.scala
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 package org.apache.openwhisk.core.controller.test
 
 import java.time.{Clock, Instant}
-
 import akka.http.scaladsl.marshallers.sprayjson.SprayJsonSupport._
 import akka.http.scaladsl.model.StatusCodes._
 import akka.http.scaladsl.server.Route
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entitlement.Collection
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity._
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity.size._
 import org.apache.openwhisk.http.{ErrorResponse, Messages}
-import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.UserContext
+import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{ActivationStoreLevel, UserContext}
 
 /**
  * Tests Activations API.
@@ -95,7 +94,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         end = Instant.now)
     }.toList
     try {
-      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsInNamespace(namespace, 2, context)
 
       org.apache.openwhisk.utils.retry {
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
     }.toList
 
     try {
-      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsInNamespace(namespace, 2, context)
       checkCount("", 2)
 
@@ -254,7 +255,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         end = now.plusSeconds(30))) // should match
 
     try {
-      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations).foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsInNamespace(namespace, activations.length, context)
 
       { // get between two time stamps
@@ -363,7 +365,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         annotations = Parameters("path", s"${namespace.asString}/pkg/xyz"))
     }.toList
     try {
-      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations ++ activationsInPackage).foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      (notExpectedActivations ++ activations ++ activationsInPackage).foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsMatchingName(namespace, EntityPath("xyz"), activations.length, context)
       waitOnListActivationsMatchingName(
         namespace,
@@ -479,7 +482,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
     }.toList
 
     try {
-      activations.foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      activations.foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsInNamespace(namespace, activations.size, context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath?skip=1") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
@@ -503,7 +507,8 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
     }.toList
 
     try {
-      activations.foreach(storeActivation(_, false, false, context))
+      activations.foreach(
+        storeActivation(_, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context))
       waitOnListActivationsInNamespace(namespace, activations.size, context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath?limit=1") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
@@ -533,7 +538,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
     try {
-      storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+      storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -570,7 +575,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
     try {
-      storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+      storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -583,7 +588,26 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
   }
 
   //// GET /activations/id/result when db store is disabled
-  it should "return activation empty when db store is disabled" in {
+  it should "return activation empty when db store is set to failures for successful blocking" in {
+    implicit val tid = transid()
+    val activation =
+      WhiskActivation(
+        namespace,
+        aname(),
+        creds.subject,
+        ActivationId.generate(),
+        start = Instant.now,
+        end = Instant.now)
+
+    storeActivation(activation, true, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
+
+    Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
+      status should be(NotFound)
+    }
+  }
+
+  //// GET /activations/id/result when db store is disabled
+  it should "return activation empty when db store is set to failures for non-blocking" in {
     implicit val tid = transid()
     val activation =
       WhiskActivation(
@@ -594,7 +618,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
 
-    storeActivation(activation, true, true, context)
+    storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES, context)
 
     Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
       status should be(NotFound)
@@ -602,7 +626,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
   }
 
   //// GET /activations/id/result when store is disabled and activation is not blocking
-  it should "get activation result by id when db store is disabled and activation is not blocking" in {
+  it should "get activation result by id when db store is disabled for successful blocking and activation is not blocking" in {
     implicit val tid = transid()
     val activation =
       WhiskActivation(
@@ -613,7 +637,12 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
     try {
-      storeActivation(activation, false, true, context)
+      storeActivation(
+        activation,
+        false,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS,
+        context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -626,7 +655,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
   }
 
   //// GET /activations/id/result when store is disabled and activation is unsuccessful
-  it should "get activation result by id when db store is disabled and activation is unsuccessful" in {
+  it should "get activation result by id when db store is set to failures and activation is unsuccessful" in {
     implicit val tid = transid()
     val activation =
       WhiskActivation(
@@ -638,7 +667,65 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         end = Instant.now,
         response = ActivationResponse.whiskError("activation error"))
     try {
-      storeActivation(activation, true, true, context)
+      storeActivation(
+        activation,
+        true,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES,
+        context)
+
+      Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
+        status should be(OK)
+        val response = responseAs[JsObject]
+        response should be(activation.response.toExtendedJson)
+      }
+    } finally {
+      deleteActivation(ActivationId(activation.docid.asString), context)
+    }
+  }
+
+  it should "return activation empty when db store is set to not application failures and activation is application failure" in {
+    implicit val tid = transid()
+    val activation =
+      WhiskActivation(
+        namespace,
+        aname(),
+        creds.subject,
+        ActivationId.generate(),
+        start = Instant.now,
+        end = Instant.now,
+        response = ActivationResponse.applicationError("activation error"))
+
+    storeActivation(
+      activation,
+      true,
+      ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS,
+      ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS,
+      context)
+
+    Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
+      status should be(NotFound)
+    }
+  }
+
+  it should "get activation result by id when db store is set to not application failures failures and activation is unsuccessful" in {
+    implicit val tid = transid()
+    val activation =
+      WhiskActivation(
+        namespace,
+        aname(),
+        creds.subject,
+        ActivationId.generate(),
+        start = Instant.now,
+        end = Instant.now,
+        response = ActivationResponse.whiskError("activation error"))
+    try {
+      storeActivation(
+        activation,
+        true,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS,
+        ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_FAILURES_NOT_APPLICATION_ERRORS,
+        context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/result") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -662,7 +749,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
     try {
-      storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+      storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/logs") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
         status should be(OK)
@@ -685,7 +772,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
         ActivationId.generate(),
         start = Instant.now,
         end = Instant.now)
-    storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+    storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
     try {
 
       Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId.asString}/bogus") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
@@ -758,7 +845,7 @@ class ActivationsApiTests extends ControllerTestCommon with WhiskActivationsApi
 
     val activation =
       new BadActivation(namespace, aname(), creds.subject, ActivationId.generate(), Instant.now, Instant.now)
-    storeActivation(activation, false, false, context)
+    storeActivation(activation, false, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, ActivationStoreLevel.STORE_ALWAYS, context)
 
     Get(s"$collectionPath/${activation.activationId}") ~> Route.seal(routes(creds)) ~> check {
       status should be(InternalServerError)
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ControllerTestCommon.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ControllerTestCommon.scala
index 95c527cbc81..13f95721175 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ControllerTestCommon.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/org/apache/openwhisk/core/controller/test/ControllerTestCommon.scala
@@ -34,14 +34,19 @@ import org.apache.openwhisk.core.{FeatureFlags, WhiskConfig}
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.connector.ActivationMessage
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.containerpool.logging.LogStoreProvider
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.controller.{CustomHeaders, RestApiCommons, WhiskServices}
-import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{ActivationStoreProvider, CacheChangeNotification, DocumentFactory}
+import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.{
+  ActivationStoreLevel,
+  ActivationStoreProvider,
+  CacheChangeNotification,
+  DocumentFactory,
+  UserContext
+}
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.test.DbUtils
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entitlement._
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity._
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.entity.test.ExecHelpers
 import org.apache.openwhisk.core.loadBalancer.LoadBalancer
 import org.apache.openwhisk.spi.SpiLoader
-import org.apache.openwhisk.core.database.UserContext
 
 protected trait ControllerTestCommon
     extends FlatSpec
@@ -127,12 +132,15 @@ protected trait ControllerTestCommon
   def storeActivation(
     activation: WhiskActivation,
     isBlockingActivation: Boolean,
-    disableStore: Boolean,
+    blockingStoreLevel: ActivationStoreLevel.Value,
+    nonBlockingStoreLevel: ActivationStoreLevel.Value,
     context: UserContext)(implicit transid: TransactionId, timeout: Duration = 10 seconds): DocInfo = {
-    val docFuture = activationStore.storeAfterCheck(activation, isBlockingActivation, Some(disableStore), context)(
-      transid,
-      notifier = None,
-      logging)
+    val docFuture = activationStore.storeAfterCheck(
+      activation,
+      isBlockingActivation,
+      Some(blockingStoreLevel),
+      Some(nonBlockingStoreLevel),
+      context)(transid, notifier = None, logging)
     val doc = Await.result(docFuture, timeout)
     assert(doc != null)
     doc