diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/machine.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/machine.go
index 6025426bb..f73dfc90d 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/machine.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/machine.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ type Machine struct {
 	Beside func(func())
 	// looks is the last look below each real path (LookKept).
 	looks   map[string]*lookBelow
-	cleanMu sync.Mutex
+	looksMu sync.Mutex
 	// walk is the running pass's context, which ends the look below a share when the process stops.
 	walk   context.Context
 	walkMu sync.Mutex
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/review_test.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/review_test.go
index e987bf463..925f36a83 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/review_test.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/review_test.go
@@ -483,3 +483,29 @@ func TestTheLookBelowRunsBesideThePassAndNeverHoldsItsStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("the repository was not found by the next look: %+v", s.Refused)
 	}
 }
+
+// After a restart no look is remembered; a share the previous process's export file carries stays exported,
+// and nothing is reloaded, while its first look runs (a delivery never unexports a mounted share).
+func TestARestartKeepsTheExportedShareWhileItsFirstLookRuns(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	f.mountinfo("/", "/srv/clean")
+	f.dir("/srv/clean/films/one")
+	f.file(ConfigFile, grantsConfig("clean=/srv/clean", "clean=ws:rw"))
+	f.roster("ws 10.0.0.3")
+	f.wants(map[string][]Want{"ws": {{Share: "clean", Access: "rw"}}})
+	f.kernelReads()
+	first := f.machine()
+	s := first.Pass(context.Background(), nil)
+	before := f.read(ExportFile)
+	if refusedWhy(s, "clean") != "" || !strings.Contains(before, "/srv/clean ") {
+		t.Fatalf("the share was not exported to begin with: %+v %q", s.Refused, before)
+	}
+	m := f.machine()
+	var held []func()
+	m.Beside = func(w func()) { held = append(held, w) }
+	f.ran = nil
+	s = m.Pass(context.Background(), &s)
+	if len(held) != 1 || refusedWhy(s, "clean") != "" || f.read(ExportFile) != before || countExportfs(f.ran) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a restart with an unfinished walk unexported the share: %+v, ran %v", s.Refused, f.ran)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/shares.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/shares.go
index ca81ddf9e..8ef26637d 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/shares.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/shares.go
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ type lookBelow struct {
 // kept clean look is being renewed the old result stands. complete is false when the look stopped at its
 // bound or with the process.
 func (m *Machine) repositoryBelow(dir string) (found string, complete, pending bool) {
-	m.cleanMu.Lock()
+	m.looksMu.Lock()
 	r := m.looks[dir]
 	if r == nil {
 		if m.looks == nil {
@@ -279,12 +279,12 @@ func (m *Machine) repositoryBelow(dir string) (found string, complete, pending b
 	if start {
 		r.running = true
 	}
-	m.cleanMu.Unlock()
+	m.looksMu.Unlock()
 	if start {
 		walk := func() {
 			f, c := m.walkBelow(dir)
-			m.cleanMu.Lock()
-			defer m.cleanMu.Unlock()
+			m.looksMu.Lock()
+			defer m.looksMu.Unlock()
 			r.running = false
 			if w := m.walking(); w != nil && w.Err() != nil {
 				return // ended by the process stopping: no result, the old one stands
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ func (m *Machine) repositoryBelow(dir string) (found string, complete, pending b
 			go walk()
 		}
 	}
-	m.cleanMu.Lock()
-	defer m.cleanMu.Unlock()
+	m.looksMu.Lock()
+	defer m.looksMu.Unlock()
 	if !r.done {
 		return "", false, true
 	}
@@ -381,7 +381,8 @@ func (m *Machine) Judge(c Config, roster map[string]string, wants map[string][]W
 		prefix, _ = netip.ParsePrefix(c.Range)
 	}
 	points := m.MountPoints()
-	backup, _ := m.Backup() // judged on every pass, never kept: see backup.go
+	onDisk, _ := m.Read(ExportFile) // what the previous process judged
+	backup, _ := m.Backup()         // judged on every pass, never kept: see backup.go
 	backup.Paths = m.realPaths(backup.Paths)
 	shares := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, s := range c.Shares {
@@ -455,11 +456,11 @@ func (m *Machine) Judge(c Config, roster map[string]string, wants map[string][]W
 			no(fmt.Sprintf("The share %s's folder %s%s holds a backup repository (%s), and backups are never exported: share the folders beside it instead.", s.Name, real, via, holds))
 			continue
 		}
-		if pending {
+		if pending && !carries(onDisk, s.Name, real) {
 			no(fmt.Sprintf("The share %s's folder %s%s has not been looked through yet for a backup repository (the look runs beside the pass and takes a while on a large folder), so it is not exported yet.", s.Name, real, via))
 			continue
 		}
-		if !complete {
+		if !pending && !complete {
 			no(fmt.Sprintf("The share %s's folder %s%s holds more folders than the module looks through (%d levels, at most %d folders), so it could not make sure no backup repository is under it: share smaller folders.", s.Name, real, via, WalkDepth, m.limit()))
 			continue
 		}
@@ -530,6 +531,18 @@ func (m *Machine) Judge(c Config, roster map[string]string, wants map[string][]W
 	return out, refused, said
 }
 
+// carries says whether the export file already carries a share: its line, or the note that it goes to no
+// node. While a share's first look is unfinished (after a restart) it stays as the previous process judged
+// it, so a delivery never unexports a share clients have mounted.
+func carries(file, name, real string) bool {
+	for _, l := range strings.Split(file, "\n") {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(l, real+" ") || l == "# share "+name || strings.HasPrefix(l, "# share "+name+":") {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func (m *Machine) limit() int {
 	if m.WalkLimit > 0 {
 		return m.WalkLimit