diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/askers.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/askers.go
index 2e385c3a..037bce99 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/askers.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/askers.go
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ func (d Declared) May(caller, name string) (bool, string) {
 	}
 	raw, err := d.Read(node + "." + module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Sprintf("the assignment %s.%s could not be read, so what it names is not known: %v", node,
-			module, err)
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf(notYetPrefix+"the assignment %s.%s could not be read, so what it names is not known: %v",
+			node, module, err)
 	}
 	if raw == nil {
 		return false, fmt.Sprintf("%s is not on %s: neither assigned there nor required by a module there", module,
@@ -173,3 +173,8 @@ func (d Declared) May(caller, name string) (bool, string) {
 	}
 	return false, fmt.Sprintf("%s's plan on %s names no secret %s", module, node, secret)
 }
+
+// notYetPrefix begins a reason that is not a refusal (issue 928): what the rule needs could not be read just now, a
+// bus error rather than an answer. The vault says "holds no secret named ... yet", which the client waits on and asks
+// again, and records no refusal.
+const notYetPrefix = "not yet: "
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/notyet_test.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/notyet_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..951ae1b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/notyet_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/seal"
+)
+
+// Issue 928: an assignment the vault could not read (the controller was being pushed, "no responders") is not a
+// refusal the client keeps for ten minutes: it is "not yet", the answer the client waits on and asks again.
+func TestAnAssignmentThatCannotBeReadIsNotYetAndNotARefusal(t *testing.T) {
+	down := errors.New("nats: no responders available for request")
+	read := func(string) ([]byte, error) { return nil, down }
+	v := newVault(t, Declared{Read: read})
+	asker, _ := seal.GenerateKeyPair()
+	for _, name := range []string{"own/g14/claude-code/token", "provision/novox/gitea-read/g14/claude-code"} {
+		_, err := v.Get("provisioner.g14", name, asker.PublicKey)
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: answered while the assignment cannot be read and the vault holds nothing", name)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "holds no secret named") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no responders") {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the answer is %q, not the not-yet the client waits on, with the reason", name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	hs, _ := v.Store.Handed(10)
+	for _, h := range hs {
+		if h.Outcome == "refused" {
+			t.Errorf("a read error was recorded as a refusal: %+v", h)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// A pair row asked for while the consumer's assignment cannot be read is not yet either, and a row whose
+// assignment reads as absent stays "not on".
+func TestAPairRowWhoseAssignmentCannotBeReadIsNotYet(t *testing.T) {
+	down := errors.New("nats: no responders available for request")
+	parts := []string{"pair", "novox", "db", "g14", "claude-code"}
+	why := pairRowRefusal(func(string) ([]byte, error) { return nil, down }, "g14", parts)
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(why, notYetPrefix) || !strings.Contains(why, "no responders") {
+		t.Errorf("a read error answered %q, want a not-yet carrying the reason", why)
+	}
+	why = pairRowRefusal(func(string) ([]byte, error) { return nil, nil }, "g14", parts)
+	if strings.HasPrefix(why, notYetPrefix) || !strings.Contains(why, "is not on g14") {
+		t.Errorf("an absent assignment answered %q, want the refusal 'not on'", why)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/pair.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/pair.go
index ac3df924..2417df12 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/pair.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/pair.go
@@ -780,7 +780,10 @@ func pairRowRefusal(read AssignmentReader, node string, parts []string) string {
 		return "the vault cannot read the assignments, so it cannot tell what " + node + "'s plans name"
 	}
 	raw, err := read(consumer + "." + module)
-	if err != nil || raw == nil {
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Sprintf(notYetPrefix+"the assignment %s.%s could not be read: %v", consumer, module, err)
+	}
+	if raw == nil {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s is not on %s", module, consumer)
 	}
 	var a plannedProvisions
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
index 817bb3b3..0fffa275 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -237,6 +238,11 @@ func (v *Vault) Get(caller, name, publicKey string) (Answer, error) {
 			return Answer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s may not ask for %s: %s", caller, name, why)
 		}
 	} else if ok, why := askers.May(caller, name); !ok {
+		if reason, notYet := strings.CutPrefix(why, notYetPrefix); notYet {
+			// Not a refusal (issue 928): the client waits and asks again, and nothing is recorded against it.
+			v.log("not yet %s to %s: %s", name, caller, reason)
+			return Answer{}, fmt.Errorf("the vault holds no secret named %s yet: %s", name, reason)
+		}
 		v.log("refused %s to %s: %s", name, caller, why)
 		_ = v.recordHanding(Handing{To: caller, Name: name, Outcome: "refused", Why: why})
 		return Answer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s may not ask for %s: %s", caller, name, why)