diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licencebindings.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licencebindings.go
index d1d09422a..bb85f20a5 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licencebindings.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licencebindings.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -229,3 +230,43 @@ func watchLicenceBindings(lb LicenceBindings) bool {
 	}
 	return true
 }
+
+// licenceRefusal answers whether name is a licence's secret and, if it is, why the vault does not hand it to caller,
+// empty when it does (§16, §17, A1, B3, B8, B25): a grant to any caller (B3), an access token to a machine on which a
+// consumer's binding names that licence's key. The rule that a value goes only to a module under a bus account of
+// its own does not apply to a licence's secrets (§17).
+func (v *Vault) licenceRefusal(caller, name string) (bool, string) {
+	rest, ok := strings.CutPrefix(name, "licence.")
+	if !ok {
+		return false, ""
+	}
+	key, part := rest, ""
+	for _, p := range []string{LicenceGrant, LicenceAccess} {
+		if k, cut := strings.CutSuffix(rest, "."+p); cut {
+			key, part = k, p
+		}
+	}
+	if part == "" || !licenceKey.MatchString(key) {
+		return false, ""
+	}
+	if part == LicenceGrant {
+		return true, ""
+	}
+	machine, _, _ := strings.Cut(caller, ".")
+	if v.LicenceBindings == nil {
+		return true, "the vault keeps no licence bindings, so no binding names the licence " + key
+	}
+	consumers, err := v.LicenceBindings.Keys()
+	if err != nil {
+		return true, "the licence bindings cannot be read: " + err.Error()
+	}
+	for _, consumer := range consumers {
+		if c, _, _ := strings.Cut(consumer, "."); c != machine {
+			continue
+		}
+		if b, err := v.LicenceBindings.Get(consumer); err == nil && b != nil && b.Key == key {
+			return true, ""
+		}
+	}
+	return true, fmt.Sprintf("no consumer on %s is bound to the licence %s, and its token goes only to a machine a binding names", machine, key)
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licences_test.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licences_test.go
index dafc5dc0c..373ad630a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licences_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/licences_test.go
@@ -56,3 +56,45 @@ func TestLicencePutKeepsTheNewestGenerationAndRefusesAnOlder(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("licence-put took an unproven caller")
 	}
 }
+
+// design 39 bus-and-switch §17/AC1, §16, B3, B8, B25: a licence's access token is refused to a machine no binding names
+// and for a licence its binding does not name, and given after a binding.changed naming it, to any consumer of that
+// machine; the grant goes to the manager's tool runner, with no machine guard.
+func TestATokenIsGivenOnlyToAMachineABindingNames(t *testing.T) {
+	v := newVault(t, nil)
+	lb, _ := memLicenceBindings()
+	v.LicenceBindings = &lb
+	const manager = "novox.node-tools"
+	for _, key := range []string{"jane_at_example.org", "api"} {
+		for _, part := range []string{LicenceGrant, LicenceAccess} {
+			if _, err := putLicence(t, v, manager, key, part, 1, key+"-"+part); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	access := "licence.jane_at_example.org.access"
+	if _, _, err := asks(v, "g14.node-tools", access); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no consumer on g14") {
+		t.Fatalf("a machine no binding names was handed the token: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := lb.Heard([]byte(`{"consumer":"g14","licence":"api","key":"api","generation":4}`)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, _, err := asks(v, "g14.node-tools", access); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a licence its binding does not name was handed to g14")
+	}
+	if got, _, err := asks(v, "g14.node-tools", "licence.api.access"); err != nil || got != "api-access" {
+		t.Fatalf("g14's own licence: %q %v", got, err)
+	}
+	if err := lb.Heard([]byte(`{"consumer":"g14.worker-1","licence":"jane@example.org","key":"jane_at_example.org","generation":2}`)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got, _, err := asks(v, "g14.node-tools", access); err != nil || got != "jane_at_example.org-access" {
+		t.Fatalf("after a binding.changed naming it: %q %v", got, err)
+	}
+	if _, _, err := asks(v, "ace.node-tools", access); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("another machine was handed g14's token")
+	}
+	if got, _, err := asks(v, manager, "licence.jane_at_example.org.grant"); err != nil || got != "jane_at_example.org-grant" {
+		t.Fatalf("the manager's grant: %q %v", got, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/main.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/main.go
index 2d2a1126b..129a44acc 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/main.go
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ func build() *Env {
 	// The assignments as the vault's watch keeps them (watchAssignments), read over the bus until it has caught up.
 	assigned = &WatchedAssignments{Fallback: readPlanRaw}
 	watchedPlan := func(key string) ([]byte, error) { raw, err := assigned.Read(key); return asAssignment(key, raw, err) }
-	env.Vault = &Vault{Store: store, Own: own, Askers: Declared{Read: watchedPlan, Confirm: readAssignment, Store: store},
+	licenceBindings := busLicenceBindings()
+	env.Vault = &Vault{Store: store, Own: own, LicenceBindings: &licenceBindings, Askers: Declared{Read: watchedPlan, Confirm: readAssignment, Store: store},
 		Assignments: Mirror{Keys: assignmentKeys, Read: readAssignment}, Emit: emit, Ask: stdio.Ask,
 		Now: time.Now, Log: say, Accounts: busAccounts{}, Haves: readHave, WantRead: readWant,
 		HaveKeys: func() ([]string, error) { return stdio.State(HaveRead).Keys() }, Assigner: seatAssignments, Signers: busSigners{},
diff --git a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
index 85c0c6ccf..aac01cdf1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/vault.go
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ const ChangedEvent = "secret-changed"
 // Vault holds the secrets.
 type Vault struct {
 	Store *Store
+	// LicenceBindings is the vault's own state of the licence bindings (licencebindings.go): which machine a licence's
+	// access token goes to. Nil hands it to no machine.
+	LicenceBindings *LicenceBindings
 	// Own is the vault's own key; the private half never leaves its state directory.
 	Own seal.KeyPair
 	// Askers decides who may ask `get` for what. Nil allows nobody.
@@ -386,8 +389,16 @@ func (v *Vault) Get(caller, name, publicKey string) (Answer, error) {
 		_ = 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)
 	}
+	isLicence, licenceWhy := v.licenceRefusal(caller, name)
 	if isLogin {
 		// Judged above: the node's own engine, sealed to its own key.
+	} else if isLicence {
+		// A licence's secret, by the licence rule (design 39 bus-and-switch §16, §17).
+		if licenceWhy != "" {
+			v.log("refused %s to %s: %s", name, caller, licenceWhy)
+			_ = v.recordHanding(Handing{To: caller, Name: name, Outcome: "refused", Why: licenceWhy})
+			return Answer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s may not ask for %s: %s", caller, name, licenceWhy)
+		}
 	} 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.