diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval.go
index 1e08b31c..e57a47b0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval.go
@@ -411,6 +411,9 @@ func (h *Holder) approval(d *Delivery, now time.Time) (string, func()) {
 		}
 	}
 	check := h.checkAt(members)
+	if !h.checkGates() {
+		check = unansweredWords(check) // asked with no verdict only past its bound (verdictWaits)
+	}
 	ask := composeMergeAsk(sdk.AskingID(id, asking), d, group, members, heads, check, now)
 	taken := []*Delivery{}
 	var reads []memberRead
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/helpers_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/helpers_test.go
index 1bec05c3..28ad0e54 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/helpers_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/helpers_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 package main
 
-import "time"
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"time"
+
+	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
 
 var t0 = time.Date(2026, 10, 6, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 
@@ -27,3 +32,24 @@ func statusOn(w *world, repo, commit string) string {
 	defer w.forge.mu.Unlock()
 	return w.forge.statuses[repo+"@"+commit+" mesh/delivery"]
 }
+
+// checkerSays puts the checker's verdict at these heads together into its verdicts bucket, as captured on the bus
+// (mesh-delivery-checker, key `<group>.<heads hash>`).
+func checkerSays(w *world, group, state, failed string, heads ...sdk.Head) {
+	checkerSaysWith(w, group, state, failed, nil, heads...)
+}
+
+// checkerSaysWith is checkerSays with more of the verdict's fields (its composition); the state "gone" deletes the key.
+func checkerSaysWith(w *world, group, state, failed string, more map[string]any, heads ...sdk.Head) {
+	hash, _ := sdk.HeadsHash(heads)
+	if state == "gone" {
+		w.h.CheckerVerdictChanged(group+"."+hash, nil)
+		return
+	}
+	v := map[string]any{"v": 1, "group": group, "heads": hash, "state": state, "failed": map[string]string{"words": failed}}
+	for k, x := range more {
+		v[k] = x
+	}
+	value, _ := json.Marshal(v)
+	w.h.CheckerVerdictChanged(group+"."+hash, value)
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
index 9d690822..823c89d9 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ type Holder struct {
 	unchecked map[string]unchecked
 	// checker are the checker's verdicts by the hash of the heads they judged, as its verdicts bucket holds them
 	// (onestatus.go, issue 1302); runningSince when this owner first saw each running (ADR 0548 §2, turns.go).
-	checker      map[string]checkerVerdict
+	checker map[string]checkerVerdict
+	// verdictGone is when the checker's verdict at a heads hash was taken away (its key deleted): the Approve's wait for a
+	// verdict counts its bound from then, as from a check that starts again (verdictWaits).
+	verdictGone  map[string]time.Time
 	runningSince map[string]time.Time
 	// unmergeableSince is when the forge first said a group's member does not merge now, by group and member (issue 1275,
 	// group_merge.go): within forgeMergeGrace that is the forge still working out mergeability, asked again shortly.
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ func (h *Holder) init() {
 	h.lostRead = map[string]time.Time{}
 	h.unchecked = map[string]unchecked{}
 	h.checker = map[string]checkerVerdict{}
-	h.runningSince, h.turnsHeld = map[string]time.Time{}, map[string]sdk.Turn{}
+	h.runningSince, h.turnsHeld, h.verdictGone = map[string]time.Time{}, map[string]sdk.Turn{}, map[string]time.Time{}
 	h.reach = map[string]sdk.Reach{}
 	h.started = h.Now()
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/onestatus.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/onestatus.go
index 76386e98..90a06d57 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/onestatus.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/onestatus.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+	_ "time/tzdata" // the operator's zone is known whatever this machine has installed
 
 	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
@@ -57,6 +58,12 @@ type checkerVerdict struct {
 		Machine string `json:"machine,omitempty"`
 		Words   string `json:"words,omitempty"`
 	} `json:"failed,omitzero"`
+	// Composition is what the check of the machines' composition made of it (mesh-sdk delivery.Composition): its state
+	// not-run says the composition, and with it a placement change's answers from its nodes, was not judged.
+	Composition *struct {
+		State string `json:"state"`
+		Words string `json:"words,omitempty"`
+	} `json:"composition,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // CheckerVerdictChanged takes a key of the checker's verdicts bucket (`<group>.<heads hash>`) put or deleted (an empty
@@ -75,9 +82,13 @@ func (h *Holder) CheckerVerdictChanged(key string, value []byte) {
 	if h.runningSince == nil {
 		h.runningSince = map[string]time.Time{}
 	}
+	if h.verdictGone == nil {
+		h.verdictGone = map[string]time.Time{}
+	}
 	if len(value) == 0 || string(value) == "null" {
 		delete(h.checker, hash)
 		delete(h.runningSince, hash)
+		h.verdictGone[hash] = h.Now()
 		h.Poke()
 		return
 	}
@@ -93,6 +104,7 @@ func (h *Holder) CheckerVerdictChanged(key string, value []byte) {
 		h.runningSince[v.Heads] = h.Now() // a check starts: a merge it holds says since when (ADR 0548 §2)
 	} else if v.State != checkerRunning {
 		delete(h.runningSince, v.Heads)
+		delete(h.verdictGone, v.Heads)
 	}
 	h.checker[v.Heads] = v
 	h.Poke()
@@ -329,11 +341,11 @@ func (h *Holder) checkAt(members []*Delivery) checkSaid {
 	if ok {
 		switch v.State {
 		case checkerPass:
-			return checkSaid{Key: checkSaidPass, Words: "passed its check"}
+			return checkSaid{Key: checkSaidPass, Words: "passed its check" + notComposed(v, members)}
 		case checkerRunning:
 			words := "its check has no verdict yet: it is running"
 			if since, held := h.runningSince[hash]; held && !since.IsZero() {
-				words += " (since " + since.UTC().Format("15:04") + " UTC)"
+				words += " (since " + clockSaid(since) + ")"
 			}
 			return checkSaid{Key: checkSaidRunning, Words: words}
 		default:
@@ -371,3 +383,31 @@ func (h *Holder) checkAt(members []*Delivery) checkSaid {
 	}
 	return checkSaid{Key: checkSaidNone, Words: "its check has no verdict yet"}
 }
+
+// notComposed is what a passing verdict adds when its composition was not judged (mesh-sdk delivery.CompositionNotRun): a
+// placement change's pass then holds no node's answer to its placement (ADR 0559 §5), which the ask says. Empty otherwise.
+func notComposed(v checkerVerdict, members []*Delivery) string {
+	if v.Composition == nil || v.Composition.State != sdk.CompositionNotRun {
+		return ""
+	}
+	why := firstOf(oneLine(v.Composition.Words), "it was not run")
+	for _, m := range members {
+		for _, p := range m.Paths {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(p, "placement/") && strings.HasSuffix(p, ".json") {
+				return ", but its composition was not judged (" + why + "), so no node answered its placement"
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return ", but its composition was not judged (" + why + ")"
+}
+
+// operatorZone is the zone the operator reads times in, as the messenger says them (its time-zone setting).
+var operatorZone = func() *time.Location {
+	if loc, err := time.LoadLocation("Europe/Brussels"); err == nil {
+		return loc
+	}
+	return time.UTC
+}()
+
+// clockSaid is a time of day as the operator reads it: in their zone, named ("00:35 CET").
+func clockSaid(t time.Time) string { return t.In(operatorZone).Format("15:04 MST") }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
index aee84748..c3ecbb17 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
@@ -446,9 +446,75 @@ func (h *Holder) ungatedWaits(d *Delivery) string {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if h.covering(d) == nil {
+		return h.verdictWaits(d)
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
+// askCheckBound is how long an Approve waits for the check's verdict at its heads while the check gates no merge: past it,
+// the operator is asked anyway, and the ask says the check has not answered. The checker's own step bound is 30 minutes
+// and a check runs several steps; an hour covers a whole check.
+const askCheckBound = time.Hour
+
+// waitsCheckBeforeAsking is how the wait for the check's verdict begins, as `show` and the delivery's wait say it.
+const waitsCheckBeforeAsking = "waits its check before asking the operator's Approve: "
+
+// verdictWaits is why an Approve is not asked yet while the check gates no merge: the check at the heads the ask would cover
+// has no verdict (the operator, 2026-10-27 23:54: "if you don't want me to approve it, don't send the approval request").
+// A pass or a failure is asked (a failure in its words: the operator may still merge it), and so is a check that has not
+// answered within askCheckBound of the heads becoming ready, which the ask says. For a group the check is the one of all its
+// heads together; for a placement change it ends only once every node it places answered (ADR 0559 §5). Under the lock.
+func (h *Holder) verdictWaits(d *Delivery) string {
+	members := h.askMembers(d)
+	c := h.checkAt(members)
+	if c.Key == checkSaidPass || c.Key == checkSaidFail {
+		return ""
+	}
+	until := h.waitSince(d, members).Add(askCheckBound)
+	if !h.Now().Before(until) {
+		return ""
+	}
+	h.lookAt(until, "an Approve that waits its check, asked anyway at its bound")
+	return waitsCheckBeforeAsking + c.Words + "; asked anyway at " + clockSaid(until) + " if it has not answered"
+}
+
+// waitSince is when the wait for a verdict began, the moment the bound of verdictWaits counts from: the latest of the
+// heads becoming ready (a member with no ready run yet, such as one re-pushed or settled ready by an event this look has
+// not reached, became ready now), the check at those heads starting again, and its verdict being taken away. Under the lock.
+func (h *Holder) waitSince(d *Delivery, members []*Delivery) time.Time {
+	now := h.Now()
+	since := time.Time{}
+	later := func(t time.Time) {
+		if t.After(since) {
+			since = t
+		}
+	}
+	for _, m := range append([]*Delivery{d}, members...) {
+		if m.Ready == nil {
+			return now
+		}
+		later(m.Ready.Seen)
+	}
+	if hash, err := sdk.HeadsHash(headsOf(members)); err == nil {
+		later(h.runningSince[hash])
+		later(h.verdictGone[hash])
+	}
+	if since.IsZero() || since.After(now) {
+		return now
+	}
+	return since
+}
+
+// unansweredWords is the check's words in an ask made past askCheckBound with no verdict: it says the check has not answered.
+func unansweredWords(c checkSaid) checkSaid {
+	if c.Key == checkSaidPass || c.Key == checkSaidFail {
+		return c
+	}
+	c.Words += ", and has given none in " + strconv.Itoa(int(askCheckBound.Minutes())) + " minutes, so the operator is asked anyway"
+	return c
+}
+
 // waitsForReview is how a hold for a review begins, as the delivery's state and its mesh/delivery status say it.
 const waitsForReview = "waits for a review at "
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready_test.go
index 6e139b14..4f85d309 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -70,27 +69,42 @@ func TestAnApprovedPullRequestIsMergedThroughTheMergeTool(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// 1733: the Approve's ask says the check's state at the heads it names, read from the checker's verdict there: "passed
-	// its check" only when it passed. While the check gates no merge, the ask is made before any verdict, says that Approve
-	// merges before the check ends, and is asked again in new words once the check passes or fails; a running check is no
-	// new word.
+	// its check" only when it passed. While the check gates no merge, the ask waits for the check's verdict (the operator,
+	// 2026-10-27 23:54: "if you don't want me to approve it, don't send the approval request"): a pass or a failure is asked,
+	// the failure in its words; with no verdict nothing is asked and the delivery says it waits its check, until the bound,
+	// past which it is asked anyway, saying so, and asked again in new words once the check passes. The verdict is the
+	// checker's verdicts bucket value as captured on the bus (mesh-delivery-checker, `<group>.<heads hash>`).
 	for _, row := range []struct {
-		name, state, failed string
-		gated               bool
-		asks                int
-		want, not           []string
+		name, state, failed, then, path string
+		gated                           bool
+		notComposed                     bool
+		after                           time.Duration
+		asks, open                      int
+		want, not                       []string
 	}{
 		{name: "gated, passed", gated: true, state: "pass", asks: 1,
 			want: []string{"app#7 Fix it passed its check. Approve merges it into main at " + readyHead[:12] + ";"},
 			not:  []string{"before its check ends", "no verdict yet"}},
-		{name: "ungated, no verdict", asks: 1,
-			want: []string{"its check has no verdict yet", "Approve merges it into main at " + readyHead[:12] + " now, before its check ends"},
-			not:  []string{"passed"}},
-		{name: "ungated, running", state: "running", asks: 1,
-			want: []string{"its check has no verdict yet", "before its check ends"}, not: []string{"passed"}},
-		{name: "ungated, then passed", state: "pass", asks: 2,
+		{name: "ungated, no verdict", asks: 0, want: []string{waitsCheckBeforeAsking + "its check has no verdict yet; asked anyway at 15:00 CEST if"}},
+		{name: "ungated, running", state: "running", asks: 0, want: []string{waitsCheckBeforeAsking + "its check has no verdict yet: it is running"}},
+		{name: "ungated, running past its bound", state: "running", after: askCheckBound, asks: 1,
+			want: []string{"its check has no verdict yet: it is running", "has given none in 60 minutes, so the operator is asked anyway",
+				"Approve merges it into main at " + readyHead[:12] + " now, before its check ends"}, not: []string{"passed"}},
+		{name: "ungated, past its bound, then passed", state: "running", after: askCheckBound, then: "pass", asks: 2,
+			want: []string{"passed its check. Approve merges it into main at " + readyHead[:12] + ";"}, not: []string{"before its check ends", "anyway"}},
+		{name: "ungated, passed", state: "pass", asks: 1,
 			want: []string{"passed its check. Approve merges it into main at " + readyHead[:12] + ";"}, not: []string{"before its check ends"}},
-		{name: "ungated, then failed", state: "fail", failed: "TestThing: wanted 1, got 2", asks: 2,
-			want: []string{"its check failed: TestThing: wanted 1, got 2", "although its check failed"}, not: []string{"passed"}},
+		// A pass that turns back into a check with no verdict (a check started again, its verdict taken away) past the bound
+		// withdraws the ask, and the bound counts again from that moment: nothing is asked at once as unanswered.
+		{name: "ungated, passed, running again past its bound", state: "pass", after: askCheckBound, then: "running", asks: 1, open: -1,
+			want: []string{waitsCheckBeforeAsking + "its check has no verdict yet: it is running (since 15:00 CEST); asked anyway at 16:00 CEST"}},
+		{name: "ungated, passed, its verdict gone past its bound", state: "pass", after: askCheckBound, then: "gone", asks: 1, open: -1,
+			want: []string{waitsCheckBeforeAsking + "its check has no verdict yet; asked anyway at 16:00 CEST"}},
+		// A placement change's pass with its composition not judged holds no node's answer, and the ask says so (ADR 0559 §5).
+		{name: "ungated, placement passed uncomposed", state: "pass", path: "placement/node-a.json", notComposed: true, asks: 1,
+			want: []string{"passed its check, but its composition was not judged (the assigner is not running), so no node answered its placement"}},
+		{name: "ungated, failed", state: "fail", failed: "TestThing: wanted 1, got 2", asks: 1,
+			want: []string{"its check failed: TestThing: wanted 1, got 2", "although its check failed"}, not: []string{"passed", "anyway"}},
 	} {
 		t.Run(row.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			v := newWorld(t)
@@ -98,26 +112,46 @@ func TestAnApprovedPullRequestIsMergedThroughTheMergeTool(t *testing.T) {
 				ungated(v)
 			}
 			v.op.auto = false
-			p := pr("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "feat/x", "src/a.go")
+			p := pr("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "feat/x", firstOf(row.path, "src/a.go"))
 			p.Title = "Fix it"
 			v.h.PullUpdated(p)
-			put := func() {
-				hash, _ := sdk.HeadsHash([]sdk.Head{headOf("novox/app", 7, readyHead)})
-				value, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"v": 1, "group": "g", "heads": hash, "state": row.state,
-					"failed": map[string]string{"words": row.failed}})
-				v.h.CheckerVerdictChanged("g."+hash, value)
-			}
+			head := headOf("novox/app", 7, readyHead)
 			if row.gated {
 				v.h.Checked(judgedAt("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "pass", "t1t1t1t1t1t1"))
 			}
 			v.settleAll()
 			if !row.gated && row.state != "" {
-				put()
+				var more map[string]any
+				if row.notComposed {
+					more = map[string]any{"composition": map[string]string{"state": "not-run", "words": "the assigner is not running"}}
+				}
+				checkerSaysWith(v, "g", row.state, row.failed, more, head)
+				v.settleAll()
+			}
+			if row.after > 0 {
+				v.later(row.after)
+				v.settleAll()
+			}
+			if row.then != "" {
+				checkerSays(v, "g", row.then, row.failed, head)
 				v.settleAll()
 			}
 			open := v.op.open()
-			if len(open) != 1 || v.op.count() != row.asks {
-				t.Fatalf("open asks %v, asked %d times; wanted one open, asked %d times", open, v.op.count(), row.asks)
+			wantOpen := min(row.asks, 1)
+			if row.open < 0 {
+				wantOpen = 0
+			}
+			if v.op.count() != row.asks || len(open) != wantOpen {
+				t.Fatalf("open asks %v, asked %d times; wanted asked %d times, %d open", open, v.op.count(), row.asks, wantOpen)
+			}
+			if wantOpen == 0 {
+				d := v.delivery(IDOf("novox/app", readyHead))
+				for _, w := range row.want {
+					if d.Ready == nil || !strings.Contains(d.Ready.Waits, w) {
+						t.Fatalf("the delivery's wait does not say %q: %+v", w, d.Ready)
+					}
+				}
+				return
 			}
 			e := v.op.ask(open[0]).Explanation
 			for _, w := range row.want {
@@ -146,8 +180,8 @@ func TestAnApprovedPullRequestIsMergedThroughTheMergeTool(t *testing.T) {
 	u.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
 	u.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 8, other, "feat/y", "src/b.go"))
 	u.settleAll()
-	if u.op.count() != 2 || u.state(IDOf("novox/app", readyHead)) != Ready {
-		t.Fatalf("ungated, two reviewed pull requests with no verdict: %d asks, %s", u.op.count(), u.state(IDOf("novox/app", readyHead)))
+	if u.op.count() != 0 || u.state(IDOf("novox/app", readyHead)) != Ready {
+		t.Fatalf("ungated, two reviewed pull requests with no verdict: %d asks, %s; wanted ready and not asked", u.op.count(), u.state(IDOf("novox/app", readyHead)))
 	}
 	if gates, _ := u.h.Status("listening")["check-gates-merge"].(bool); gates {
 		t.Fatalf("delivery_status does not say the check gates no merge: %v", u.h.Status("listening"))
@@ -157,8 +191,12 @@ func TestAnApprovedPullRequestIsMergedThroughTheMergeTool(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("show does not say the check gates no merge: %v", shown)
 	}
 	u.h.Checked(judgedAt("novox/app", 8, other, "fail", "t1t1t1t1t1t1"))
+	checkerSays(u, "feat/y", "fail", "TestB", headOf("novox/app", 8, other))
 	u.h.PullMerged(merged("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "m7m7m7m7m7m7"))
 	u.settleAll()
+	if u.op.count() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("ungated, a failed verdict is asked once (the check gates no merge): %d asks", u.op.count())
+	}
 	d = u.delivery(IDOf("novox/app", other))
 	if d.State != Ready || d.Check == nil || d.Check.Passes() {
 		t.Fatalf("ungated, after a failed verdict and a trunk's move: %s, verdict %+v", d.State, d.Check)
@@ -323,14 +361,44 @@ func TestAGroupMergesEveryMemberInOnePassOnlyOnceComposedAndApproved(t *testing.
 	u.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/mesh-controller", 1, ctlHead, "feat/x", "internal/a.go"))
 	u.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/mesh-catalog", 2, catHead, "feat/x", "modules/app/module.json"))
 	u.settleAll()
+	group := []sdk.Head{headOf("novox/mesh-controller", 1, ctlHead), headOf("novox/mesh-catalog", 2, catHead)}
+	checkerSays(u, "feat/x", "running", "", group...)
+	u.settleAll()
+	// The group's check is the one of its heads together: while it runs, nothing is asked and each member says it waits.
+	if d := u.delivery(IDOf("novox/mesh-catalog", catHead)); u.op.count() != 0 || d.Ready == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(d.Ready.Waits, waitsCheckBeforeAsking+"its check has no verdict yet: it is running") {
+		t.Fatalf("ungated, the group is asked %d times while its check runs; wanted none, and the wait said: %+v", u.op.count(), d.Ready)
+	}
+	checkerSays(u, "feat/x", "pass", "", group...)
+	u.settleAll()
 	if u.op.count() != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("ungated, the group is asked %d times; wanted once", u.op.count())
+		t.Fatalf("ungated, the group is asked %d times once its check passed; wanted once", u.op.count())
 	}
-	// 1733: the group's ask claims no pass it has not had.
-	if e := u.op.ask(u.op.open()[0]).Explanation; strings.Contains(e, "passed") ||
-		!strings.Contains(e, "2 pull requests: its check has no verdict yet. Approve merges all of them into main in one pass, at the heads named, now, before its check ends;") {
-		t.Fatalf("ungated, the group's ask does not say its check has no verdict yet:\n%s", e)
+	if e := u.op.ask(u.op.open()[0]).Explanation; !strings.Contains(e, "2 pull requests, passed its check. Approve merges all of them into main in one pass, at the heads named;") {
+		t.Fatalf("ungated, the group's ask does not say its check passed:\n%s", e)
 	}
+	// A member re-pushed past the bound after its sibling became ready: the bound counts from the new head, so nothing is
+	// asked as unanswered at once (review round 1).
+	r := newWorld(t)
+	ungated(r)
+	r.op.auto = false
+	const ctlHead2 = "c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3c3"
+	r.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/mesh-controller", 1, ctlHead, "feat/x", "internal/a.go"))
+	r.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/mesh-catalog", 2, catHead, "feat/x", "modules/app/module.json"))
+	r.settleAll()
+	r.later(askCheckBound + time.Minute)
+	r.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/mesh-controller", 1, ctlHead2, "feat/x", "internal/a.go"))
+	// Made ready by a handler, before the look gives it a run: no verdict and no status at the new heads, so only the rule
+	// that a member with no run counts as ready now keeps the older sibling's time from asking it as unanswered.
+	r.h.mu.Lock()
+	r.h.ungate(r.h.deliveries[IDOf("novox/mesh-controller", ctlHead2)], r.h.Now())
+	r.h.mu.Unlock()
+	r.settleAll()
+	if d := r.delivery(IDOf("novox/mesh-catalog", catHead)); r.op.count() != 0 || d.Ready == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(d.Ready.Waits, waitsCheckBeforeAsking) {
+		t.Fatalf("a member re-pushed past the bound: asked %d times, wait %+v; wanted none asked and the wait said", r.op.count(), d.Ready)
+	}
+
 	u.op.answer(u.op.open()[0], OptionApprove)
 	u.settleAll()
 	if len(u.forge.merges) != 2 {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/module.json
index 06e16ec7..ef5d1b80 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/module.json
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
     },
     "check-gates-merge": {
       "type": "boolean",
-      "description": "Whether mesh/check gates the merge. True (the default): the operator's Approve is asked, and a merge handed, only on a passing verdict judged against the trunk's head, and a trunk's move puts a verdict out of date (ADR 0447, ADR 0505 §4). False (the operator, 2026-10-25 22:56: \"run the check locally only, but not as a gate, it loses us too much time\"; developers run the unit and integration levels locally before a pull request): a pull request reviewed at its head is ready and its Approve asked at once, with no verdict waited on; no merge is refused for a check judged on an older trunk; a verdict that comes is shown on the pull request and the delivery, never waited on; a group still merges all its members in one pass. Set it false together with the gitea module's check-gates-merge, which lets its merge tool merge an approved head without a passing mesh/check.",
+      "description": "Whether mesh/check gates the merge. True (the default): the operator's Approve is asked, and a merge handed, only on a passing verdict judged against the trunk's head, and a trunk's move puts a verdict out of date (ADR 0447, ADR 0505 §4). False (the operator, 2026-10-25 22:56: \"run the check locally only, but not as a gate, it loses us too much time\"; developers run the unit and integration levels locally before a pull request): a pull request reviewed at its head is ready, and its Approve is asked once the check at its heads (a group: of all its heads together) has a verdict, a pass or a failure said in the ask, or after 60 minutes with none, said so (the operator, 2026-10-27 23:54: \"if you don't want me to approve it, don't send the approval request\"); an approved merge waits for no verdict; no merge is refused for a check judged on an older trunk; a later verdict is shown on the pull request and the delivery, and asks a pending Approve again in its words; a group still merges all its members in one pass. Set it false together with the gitea module's check-gates-merge, which lets its merge tool merge an approved head without a passing mesh/check.",
       "trusted": false,
       "default": true
     }