Wait... You Earn Tests on Failures?

As long as he accepts the consequences, it should be. And remember, he/she can ask for the consequences prior to committing to the roll…

Also, you can always try to circle up someone to help you.

And fate is spent AFTER rolling, so if they have one, and roll 666, they might want to pop it anyway.

You can also, if it makes sense, 2-stage the failure consequences.
EG: Joe is asking to circle up a warrior to aid him in killing “Ogar the Ugly Ogre”… Ob 5
Joe’s got 4d for the attempt. You can offer “If you fail by 0-2, you find someone you can hire for 1 less than listed, if you fail by 3+, you find someone who isn’t trustworthy.”

Then again, I had someone fail a circles test for an employer… they failed. They still got the job… but on their evening out, they came back to find everyone dead, and themselves framed for it.