diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/adr505_test.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/adr505_test.go
index f423f011..1bbec051 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/adr505_test.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/adr505_test.go
@@ -42,3 +42,50 @@ func TestTheSettleIsReadFromTheSettingsFileAndIsTwoMinutesByDefault(t *testing.T
 		t.Fatalf("a setting of 0: settle %s, want none", got)
 	}
 }
+
+// controllerConditions are the controller's own conditions as it raises them: the lease's (mesh-controller
+// signals.go watchLease: scope core, id controller.lease, the machine its host names, which need not be a node's
+// name) and the bus's (reconnects.go: scope bus, id the bus user).
+func controllerConditions(c *clock) []Condition {
+	lease := cond("core.controller.lease.lost", Urgent, "the controller lost its lease")
+	lease.ID, lease.Machine, lease.Raised = "controller.lease", "a-host-name", c.now()
+	bus := cond("bus.controller.bus-reconnects", Urgent, "the controller reconnects to the bus")
+	bus.Raised = c.now()
+	health := cond("module.controller.unhealthy", Urgent, "the controller is not healthy")
+	health.Raised = c.now()
+	return []Condition{lease, bus, health}
+}
+
+// ADR 0505 §2a: the controller's lease, bus and health conditions are held while a walk moving mesh-controller is
+// open, whatever name their keys give the controller and whatever host they name.
+func TestTheControllersOwnConditionsAreHeldWhileAWalkMovesMeshController(t *testing.T) {
+	h, tg, dt, c, _ := newHolder(t)
+	walk(t, h, "plan-c", WalkStarted, "", c.now(), 1200, novox("mesh-controller"))
+	for _, k := range controllerConditions(c) {
+		h.Condition(EventRaised, k)
+	}
+	runFor(h, c, time.Minute)
+	if saidOn(tg, dt) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the controller's own conditions were said during its delivery: %+v %+v", tg.sends, dt.sends)
+	}
+	for _, k := range controllerConditions(c) {
+		if !has(outcomes(h, k.Key), "held") {
+			t.Errorf("%s was not held: %v", k.Key, outcomes(h, k.Key))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// ADR 0505 §2a: a walk that does not move mesh-controller holds none of them.
+func TestTheControllersOwnConditionsAreNotHeldByAWalkOfAnotherModule(t *testing.T) {
+	h, tg, dt, c, _ := newHolder(t)
+	walk(t, h, "plan-g", WalkStarted, "", c.now(), 1200, Touch{Machine: "ace", Modules: []string{"gitea"}})
+	for _, k := range controllerConditions(c) {
+		h.Condition(EventRaised, k)
+	}
+	runFor(h, c, time.Minute)
+	for _, k := range controllerConditions(c) {
+		if has(outcomes(h, k.Key), "held") || !heard(headlineOf(k.Key), tg, dt) {
+			t.Errorf("%s was held by a walk of gitea, or not said: %v", k.Key, outcomes(h, k.Key))
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/walks.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/walks.go
index d16dce8c..33123fb5 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/walks.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/walks.go
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func (w *Walk) touches(s subject) bool {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if s.machineNamed {
+	if s.machineNamed && !s.controller {
 		return false
 	}
 	for _, t := range w.Touches {
@@ -719,8 +719,18 @@ type subject struct {
 	machineNamed bool
 	// tokens are every name it carries, to tell a message about a walk itself.
 	tokens []string
+	// controller: the subject is the controller itself — its lease, its bus connection, its health — matched to the
+	// module mesh-controller wherever a walk moves it, whatever machine or host the condition names (ADR 0505 §2a).
+	controller bool
 }
 
+// controllerNames are the names the controller's own conditions give it in their keys (`core.controller.lease.lost`,
+// `bus.controller.bus-reconnects`, `module.controller...`): each is the module ControllerModule (ADR 0505 §2a).
+var controllerNames = map[string]bool{"controller": true, ControllerModule: true}
+
+// ControllerModule is the controller's module, as a walk that moves it names it.
+const ControllerModule = "mesh-controller"
+
 // subjectOf is a record's subject: a condition's scope and id (`<scope>.<id>.<kind>` when the record kept no
 // subject of its own), a notice's subject words.
 func subjectOf(r *Record) subject {
@@ -742,6 +752,11 @@ func subjectOf(r *Record) subject {
 	if r.Machine != "" {
 		s.machines, s.machineNamed = append(s.machines, r.Machine), true
 	}
+	if (scope == "core" || scope == "bus" || scope == "module" || scope == "seat") && len(tokens) > 0 && controllerNames[tokens[0]] {
+		// The controller's own subject: the module mesh-controller, wherever it runs (ADR 0505 §2a).
+		s.modules, s.controller = append(s.modules, ControllerModule), true
+		return s
+	}
 	switch scope {
 	case "machine", "node", "bus":
 		s.machines, s.machineNamed = append(s.machines, tokens[0]), true