diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/compose_bench_test.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/compose_bench_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0b901b32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/compose_bench_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+package main
+
+// BenchmarkComposeNode times ComposeNode of an unchanged node over a mesh captured from the bus (issue 1954): the
+// placement, wants, haves, the indexer's modules and manifests, the builder's builds, mesh-config's resolved values and
+// the templates archives, read with the read tools (mesh-placement.placement, mesh-delivery-view.assigner_wants,
+// node_haves, indexer_modules, builder_build, mesh-config.config) and the manifests and archives by digest. The capture
+// is not kept in this repository (a few megabytes, and the mesh's own addresses and keys): the benchmark reads the
+// directory MESH_COMPOSE_CAPTURE names and is skipped without it. MESH_COMPOSE_NODE names the node (novox when unset).
+//
+// The capture's layout: placement.json, wants.json, haves.json, modules.json and config.json as those tools answer,
+// builds/<module>.<hex>.json as builder_build answers, manifests/<digest> and archives/<hex> as their bytes.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/frombus"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/fromruntime"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// countingStore counts the holder's reads of its own states (and the providers' entries), each a bus request live.
+type countingStore struct {
+	Store
+	gets, keys atomic.Int64
+}
+
+func (c *countingStore) Get(state, key string) (*Entry, error) {
+	c.gets.Add(1)
+	return c.Store.Get(state, key)
+}
+
+func (c *countingStore) Keys(state string) ([]string, error) {
+	c.keys.Add(1)
+	return c.Store.Keys(state)
+}
+
+// captured is the captured mesh as the states the holder reads, and the archives by digest.
+func captured(b *testing.B, dir string) (map[string]map[string][]byte, map[string][]byte) {
+	b.Helper()
+	read := func(name string, into any) {
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, name))
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, into); err != nil {
+			b.Fatalf("%s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	states := map[string]map[string][]byte{}
+	put := func(state, key string, raw []byte) {
+		if states[state] == nil {
+			states[state] = map[string][]byte{}
+		}
+		states[state][key] = raw
+	}
+	var placement struct {
+		Keys map[string]struct {
+			Placement json.RawMessage `json:"placement"`
+		} `json:"keys"`
+	}
+	read("placement.json", &placement)
+	for node, k := range placement.Keys {
+		var p delivery.Placement
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(k.Placement, &p); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		p.Node = node
+		raw, err := delivery.EncodePlacement(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		put(PlacementRead, "placement."+node, raw)
+	}
+	var wants struct {
+		Wants map[string]json.RawMessage `json:"wants"`
+	}
+	read("wants.json", &wants)
+	for k, v := range wants.Wants {
+		put(WantsRead, k, v)
+	}
+	var haves struct {
+		Keys map[string]json.RawMessage `json:"keys"`
+	}
+	read("haves.json", &haves)
+	for k, v := range haves.Keys {
+		put(HaveRead, k, v)
+	}
+	var modules struct {
+		Modules map[string]json.RawMessage `json:"modules"`
+	}
+	read("modules.json", &modules)
+	for m, v := range modules.Modules {
+		key, err := delivery.ModulesKey(m)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		put(ModulesRead, key, v)
+	}
+	var config struct {
+		Resolved []struct {
+			Key, Module, Node, Source string
+			Value                     any
+		} `json:"resolved"`
+	}
+	read("config.json", &config)
+	for _, r := range config.Resolved {
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"value": r.Value, "source": r.Source})
+		put(ResolvedRead, r.Node+"."+r.Module+"."+r.Key, raw)
+	}
+	manifests, _ := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, "manifests", "*"))
+	for _, f := range manifests {
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		digest := filepath.Base(f)
+		v, err := delivery.EncodeManifest(delivery.Manifest{Module: "captured", JSON: string(raw)})
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		key, err := delivery.ManifestsKey(digest)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		put(ManifestsRead, key, v)
+	}
+	builds, _ := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, "builds", "*.json"))
+	for _, f := range builds {
+		var bb struct {
+			Module      string          `json:"module"`
+			Fingerprint string          `json:"fingerprint"`
+			Build       json.RawMessage `json:"build"`
+		}
+		read(strings.TrimPrefix(f, dir+"/"), &bb)
+		key, err := delivery.BuilderBuildKey(bb.Module, bb.Fingerprint)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		put(BuildsRead, key, bb.Build)
+	}
+	archives := map[string][]byte{}
+	files, _ := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, "archives", "*"))
+	for _, f := range files {
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		archives[filepath.Base(f)] = raw
+	}
+	return states, archives
+}
+
+func BenchmarkComposeNode(b *testing.B) {
+	dir := os.Getenv("MESH_COMPOSE_CAPTURE")
+	if dir == "" {
+		b.Skip("MESH_COMPOSE_CAPTURE names no captured mesh")
+	}
+	node := os.Getenv("MESH_COMPOSE_NODE")
+	if node == "" {
+		node = "novox"
+	}
+	states, archives := captured(b, dir)
+	ws := stdio.WatchedStatesOver(func(state string, handle func(stdio.StateChange) error) error {
+		for k, v := range states[state] {
+			if err := handle(stdio.StateChange{State: state, Key: k, Op: stdio.OpPut, Value: v, Current: true}); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}, func(state, key string) ([]byte, bool, error) {
+		v, ok := states[state][key]
+		return v, ok, nil
+	})
+	fetch := fromruntime.KeptFetch(func(_ context.Context, url string) ([]byte, error) {
+		_, hex, _ := strings.Cut(url, "sha256:")
+		raw, ok := archives[hex]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, os.ErrNotExist
+		}
+		return raw, nil
+	})
+	own := &countingStore{Store: newStore()}
+	h := &Holder{Store: Watching(own, ws), Compose: composerOver(frombus.StatesReader(fromruntime.Watched{WatchedStates: ws}, fetch)),
+		Now: time.Now, Logf: func(string, ...any) {}}
+	// Composed twice before it is timed: a provision's state follows the states of those it depends on, which the first
+	// composition writes, so the second may still change a key; from then on nothing changes.
+	first, err := h.ComposeNode(context.Background(), node)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if second, err := h.ComposeNode(context.Background(), node); err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	} else if len(second.Changed) > 0 {
+		b.Logf("the second composition of %s changed %v", node, second.Changed)
+	}
+	b.Logf("first composition of %s: %d plans written, %d held, %d problems, %d keys changed", node, len(first.Plans),
+		len(first.Held), len(first.Problems), len(first.Changed))
+	for _, p := range first.Problems {
+		b.Logf("problem: %s", p)
+	}
+	own.gets.Store(0)
+	own.keys.Store(0)
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	var c Composed
+	for b.Loop() {
+		c, err = h.ComposeNode(context.Background(), node)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if len(c.Plans)+len(c.Gone)+len(c.Changed) > 0 {
+			b.Fatalf("an unchanged node composed changes: %+v", c)
+		}
+	}
+	b.Logf("the last composition of %s: %s", node, TookSaid(c.Took))
+	b.ReportMetric(float64(own.gets.Load())/float64(b.N), "own-gets/op")
+	b.ReportMetric(float64(own.keys.Load())/float64(b.N), "own-keys/op")
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
index 2a7ee6bd..a15e1abc 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
@@ -75,12 +75,18 @@ var BoundReads = []string{"gitea", "keycloak", "postgres", "route-adapter", "rou
 // boundRead is a provider's entries as this module reads them.
 func boundRead(module string) string { return module + ".bound" }
 
-// Composer is each module's provisioning plan on a node, composed from the bus: at the builds keptAt names
-// (module → fingerprint), the newest build of every other placed module. A module whose build or plan refuses is held
-// (frombus.PlansHeld; issue 774, one bad module must not drop its node): in held with why, none of its plan in plans.
-// err is a refusal that is no single module's.
-type Composer func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) (plans map[string]catalogue.Plan,
-	held map[string]string, err error)
+// Composer is a node's provisioning plans, composed from the bus over one read: at the builds keptAt names (module →
+// fingerprint, the newest build of every other placed module), and at the newest build of each placed module (issue
+// 1954: once, not twice). A module whose build or plan refuses is held (frombus.PlansHeld; issue 774, one bad module
+// must not drop its node): in held with why, none of its plan in plans; a scope's Err is a refusal that is no single
+// module's.
+type Composer func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) Composition
+
+// Composition is a node's plans at its wanted builds and at its newest, and where the time went.
+type Composition struct {
+	AtWants, Newest frombus.HeldPlans
+	Took            []frombus.Phase
+}
 
 // Asker is the operator's channel as this module asks on it: publish an ask under its own name, and read the router's
 // record of it.
@@ -111,13 +117,40 @@ type Composed struct {
 	// stay as they were, and every other module is composed (issue 774).
 	Held     map[string]string `json:"modules-held,omitempty"`
 	Problems []string          `json:"problems,omitempty"`
+	// Took is where the composition's time went, phase by phase in milliseconds, its whole last (issue 1954).
+	Took []Took `json:"took"`
+}
+
+// Took is one phase of a composition and its milliseconds.
+type Took struct {
+	Phase string `json:"phase"`
+	MS    int64  `json:"ms"`
+}
+
+// TookSaid says a composition's phases in one line.
+func TookSaid(took []Took) string {
+	var said []string
+	for _, t := range took {
+		said = append(said, fmt.Sprintf("%s %d ms", t.Phase, t.MS))
+	}
+	return strings.Join(said, ", ")
 }
 
 // ComposeNode composes one node: its plans and its provisions.
-func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (Composed, error) {
+func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (out Composed, err error) {
 	h.mu.Lock()
 	defer h.mu.Unlock()
-	out := Composed{Node: node}
+	out = Composed{Node: node}
+	began, start := time.Now(), time.Now()
+	mark := func(phase string, took time.Duration) {
+		out.Took = append(out.Took, Took{Phase: phase, MS: took.Milliseconds()})
+	}
+	lap := func(phase string) {
+		now := time.Now()
+		mark(phase, now.Sub(start))
+		start = now
+	}
+	defer func() { mark("whole", time.Since(began)) }()
 	wanted, err := h.wantedOn(node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return out, err
@@ -129,14 +162,19 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (Composed, error)
 			wanted[module] = fp
 		}
 	}
-	atWants, heldAtWants, err := h.Compose(ctx, node, wanted)
-	if err != nil {
-		return out, fmt.Errorf("the plans of %s cannot be composed: %w", node, err)
+	lap("wants")
+	c := h.Compose(ctx, node, wanted)
+	for _, p := range c.Took {
+		mark(p.Name, p.Took)
 	}
-	newest, heldNewest, err := h.Compose(ctx, node, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return out, fmt.Errorf("the plans of %s at the newest builds cannot be composed: %w", node, err)
+	start = time.Now()
+	if c.AtWants.Err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("the plans of %s cannot be composed: %w", node, c.AtWants.Err)
 	}
+	if c.Newest.Err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("the plans of %s at the newest builds cannot be composed: %w", node, c.Newest.Err)
+	}
+	atWants, heldAtWants, newest, heldNewest := c.AtWants.Plans, c.AtWants.Held, c.Newest.Plans, c.Newest.Held
 	// A module held at its wanted build has no plan composed: its last plan and its provisions are kept, said in
 	// `refused`. One held at its newest build alone keeps its plan at its want; what its newest build needs ahead waits.
 	if len(heldAtWants) > 0 {
@@ -153,6 +191,7 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (Composed, error)
 	if err := h.writePlans(node, atWants, heldAtWants, &out); err != nil {
 		out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
 	}
+	lap("plans written")
 	needed := map[string]provisions.Provision{}
 	elsewhere := map[string]provisions.Provision{}
 	vaultNode := h.vaultNode()
@@ -199,6 +238,7 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (Composed, error)
 	}
 	h.judgeElsewhere(elsewhere, &out)
 	h.judgeNode(node, needed, heldAtWants, &out)
+	lap("provisions judged")
 	return out, nil
 }
 
@@ -1046,21 +1086,40 @@ func orSaid(words ...string) string {
 }
 
 // FromWatched is the holder's composer over one watched copy of its reads (novox/hq ADR 0580 clause 2): frombus's plans
-// of a node, at the builds keptAt names, read from the copy (placement, haves, modules, resolved values), a build by key
-// and a manifest once per digest; no state is read key by key per composition. A plan names no value, so no own secret
-// and no credential is read (compose.Planning).
+// of a node, at the builds keptAt names and at the newest over one read of the copy (placement, haves, modules,
+// resolved values), a build by key and a manifest once per digest; no state is read key by key per composition. A plan
+// names no value, so no own secret and no credential is read (compose.Planning).
 func FromWatched(ws *stdio.WatchedStates) Composer {
-	r := fromruntime.WatchedReader(ws)
-	return func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) (map[string]catalogue.Plan, map[string]string, error) {
-		return frombus.PlansHeld(ctx, r, frombus.Mesh{}, frombus.Scope{Node: node, KeptAt: keptAt})
+	return composerOver(fromruntime.WatchedReader(ws))
+}
+
+// composerOver is the holder's composer over a reader: both scopes over one read (frombus.PlansHeldTwice).
+func composerOver(r frombus.Reader) Composer {
+	return func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) Composition {
+		at, newest, took := frombus.PlansHeldTwice(ctx, r, frombus.Mesh{}, frombus.Scope{Node: node, KeptAt: keptAt})
+		return Composition{AtWants: at, Newest: newest, Took: took}
 	}
 }
 
 // WatchedReads are the states the holder reads whole, each from the watched copy: what the composer reads and the
-// wants (ADR 0580 clause 2). Its own states and the providers' entries stay read from the bus, after its own writes.
-var WatchedReads = []string{PlacementRead, WantsRead, ModulesRead, HaveRead, ResolvedRead}
+// wants (ADR 0580 clause 2), and the providers' entries, whose watch is also what rejudges a key.
+var WatchedReads = append([]string{PlacementRead, WantsRead, ModulesRead, HaveRead, ResolvedRead}, boundReads()...)
 
-// Watching is a Store whose WatchedReads come from the copy; every other state, and every write, from s.
+// OwnStates are the states the holder alone writes (ADR 0570 clause 1), read from the watched copy too (issue 1954: some
+// 250 to 400 reads by key per composition): each of its own writes is taken into the copy at once (WatchedStates.Wrote),
+// so it reads back what it wrote before the watch hands it back.
+var OwnStates = []string{PlansState, ProvisionsState, RefusedState}
+
+func boundReads() []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(BoundReads))
+	for _, p := range BoundReads {
+		out = append(out, boundRead(p))
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// Watching is a Store whose WatchedReads and OwnStates come from the copy, its writes of OwnStates taken into the copy as
+// they land, and a manifest read once by its digest; every other state, and every write, from s.
 func Watching(s Store, ws *stdio.WatchedStates) Store { return watchingStore{Store: s, ws: ws} }
 
 type watchingStore struct {
@@ -1068,11 +1127,24 @@ type watchingStore struct {
 	ws *stdio.WatchedStates
 }
 
+// RevisionPutter is a Store that says the revision a put landed at (the bus does), so the copy keeps it exactly.
+type RevisionPutter interface {
+	PutRevision(state, key string, value any) (uint64, error)
+}
+
+func (w watchingStore) copied(state string) bool {
+	return slices.Contains(WatchedReads, state) || slices.Contains(OwnStates, state)
+}
+
 func (w watchingStore) Get(state, key string) (*Entry, error) {
-	if !slices.Contains(WatchedReads, state) {
+	get := w.ws.Get
+	switch {
+	case state == ManifestsRead:
+		get = w.ws.Once // a manifest by its digest never changes: read once, kept (ADR 0580 clause 1)
+	case !w.copied(state):
 		return w.Store.Get(state, key)
 	}
-	v, found, err := w.ws.Get(state, key)
+	v, found, err := get(state, key)
 	if err != nil || !found {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1080,12 +1152,39 @@ func (w watchingStore) Get(state, key string) (*Entry, error) {
 }
 
 func (w watchingStore) Keys(state string) ([]string, error) {
-	if !slices.Contains(WatchedReads, state) {
+	if !w.copied(state) {
 		return w.Store.Keys(state)
 	}
 	return w.ws.Keys(state)
 }
 
+func (w watchingStore) Put(state, key string, value any) error {
+	if !slices.Contains(OwnStates, state) {
+		return w.Store.Put(state, key, value)
+	}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var revision uint64
+	if rp, ok := w.Store.(RevisionPutter); ok {
+		revision, err = rp.PutRevision(state, key, json.RawMessage(raw))
+	} else {
+		err = w.Store.Put(state, key, json.RawMessage(raw))
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return w.ws.Wrote(state, key, raw, revision)
+}
+
+func (w watchingStore) Delete(state, key string) error {
+	if err := w.Store.Delete(state, key); err != nil || !slices.Contains(OwnStates, state) {
+		return err
+	}
+	return w.ws.Removed(state, key)
+}
+
 // NodesOfNodeKey is the node a key that starts with it names: a resolved value's `<node>.<module>.<key>`, a have's
 // `<node>.<module>` or `<node>.node`. A change of either recomposes that node (ADR 0580 clause 2).
 func NodesOfNodeKey(key string) []string {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_integration_test.go
index 708f4571..e5a56156 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_integration_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asks"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/frombus"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/frombus/frombustest"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/fromruntime"
@@ -262,9 +261,7 @@ func TestTheHolderComposesProvidesAndAsksOnTheBus(t *testing.T) {
 	reader := frombus.StatesReader(fromruntime.Watched{WatchedStates: ws}, fetch)
 	a := &asked{}
 	h := &Holder{Store: Watching(s, ws), Asks: a, Now: time.Now, Logf: t.Logf,
-		Compose: func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) (map[string]catalogue.Plan, map[string]string, error) {
-			return frombus.PlansHeld(ctx, reader, frombus.Mesh{}, frombus.Scope{Node: node, KeptAt: keptAt})
-		}}
+		Compose: composerOver(reader)}
 	state := func(key string) provisions.Provision {
 		e, _ := s.Get(ProvisionsState, key)
 		if e == nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
index 96c53213..31638dc1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asks"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose/frombus"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/provisions"
 )
@@ -68,12 +69,10 @@ func newMesh() *mesh {
 	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 29, 22, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	m.h = &Holder{Store: m.s, Asks: m.r, Logf: func(string, ...any) {},
 		Now: func() time.Time { now = now.Add(time.Second); return now },
-		Compose: func(_ context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) (map[string]catalogue.Plan, map[string]string, error) {
+		Compose: func(_ context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) Composition {
 			m.composed = append(m.composed, node)
-			if keptAt != nil {
-				return m.atWant[node], m.heldAt[node], nil
-			}
-			return m.atNewest[node], nil, nil
+			return Composition{AtWants: frombus.HeldPlans{Plans: m.atWant[node], Held: m.heldAt[node]},
+				Newest: frombus.HeldPlans{Plans: m.atNewest[node]}}
 		}}
 	// What each provider's manifest declares: postgres, keycloak and the vault keep entries, the others report by their
 	// have.
@@ -385,12 +384,9 @@ func TestAModuleHeldWithoutAWantIsComposedAtTheBuildItRuns(t *testing.T) {
 	m.s.write(t, HaveRead, "novox.nats", `{"v":1,"fp":"`+fp+`","phase":"running","health":"ok"}`)
 	m.s.write(t, HaveRead, "g14.dunst", `{"v":1,"fp":"src2:`+strings.Repeat("ee", 32)+`","phase":"running","health":"ok"}`)
 	var keptAt map[string]string
-	m.h.Compose = func(_ context.Context, node string, at map[string]string) (map[string]catalogue.Plan, map[string]string, error) {
-		if at != nil {
-			keptAt = at
-			return map[string]catalogue.Plan{"nats": {}}, nil, nil
-		}
-		return nil, nil, nil
+	m.h.Compose = func(_ context.Context, node string, at map[string]string) Composition {
+		keptAt = at
+		return Composition{AtWants: frombus.HeldPlans{Plans: map[string]catalogue.Plan{"nats": {}}}}
 	}
 	// ADR 0580 clause 2: the reads come from one watched copy, each state watched once and none read key by key from the
 	// bus, and a change the copy takes wakes the node it touches (a resolved value its node).
@@ -419,8 +415,16 @@ func TestAModuleHeldWithoutAWantIsComposedAtTheBuildItRuns(t *testing.T) {
 		if i == 0 && !slices.Contains(c.Plans, "novox.nats") {
 			t.Fatalf("no plan written for a module held without a want: %+v", c)
 		}
+		// Issue 1954: its own states come from the copy too, its own writes read back at once (nothing is written
+		// again), and the result says where the time went, its whole last.
+		if i == 1 && len(c.Plans)+len(c.Changed) > 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("composed again unchanged, it wrote %+v: its own writes were not read back", c)
+		}
+		if n := len(c.Took); n == 0 || c.Took[n-1].Phase != "whole" || c.Took[0].Phase != "wants" {
+			t.Fatalf("the composition says its phases as %v", c.Took)
+		}
 	}
-	for _, r := range WatchedReads {
+	for _, r := range append(slices.Clone(WatchedReads), OwnStates...) {
 		if bus.read[r] != 0 || watches[r] > 1 {
 			t.Errorf("%s was read %d times from the bus and watched %d times", r, bus.read[r], watches[r])
 		}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
index dcc74524..33d50c83 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ func (runtimeStore) Put(state, key string, value any) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// PutRevision is Put, saying the revision it landed at.
+func (runtimeStore) PutRevision(state, key string, value any) (uint64, error) {
+	return stdio.State(state).Put(key, value)
+}
+
 func (runtimeStore) Delete(state, key string) error { return stdio.State(state).Delete(key) }
 
 func (runtimeStore) Keys(state string) ([]string, error) { return stdio.State(state).Keys() }
@@ -95,14 +100,28 @@ func (w *work) run(h *Holder) {
 			c, err := h.ComposeNode(context.Background(), n)
 			switch {
 			case err != nil:
-				logf("[%s] %s is not composed: %v", Module, n, err)
+				logf("[%s] %s is not composed (%s): %v", Module, n, TookSaid(c.Took), err)
 			case len(c.Plans)+len(c.Gone)+len(c.Changed)+len(c.Asked)+len(c.Problems) > 0:
 				logf("[%s] composed %s: %+v", Module, n, c)
+			case slowest(c.Took) >= slowAt:
+				// Nothing changed and it took long: where the time went is said, so a slow composition is seen (issue 1954).
+				logf("[%s] composed %s, nothing changed: %s", Module, n, TookSaid(c.Took))
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
+// slowAt is how long a composition that changed nothing may take before its phases are said.
+const slowAt = time.Second
+
+// slowest is a composition's whole time: its last phase, "whole".
+func slowest(took []Took) time.Duration {
+	if len(took) == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return time.Duration(took[len(took)-1].MS) * time.Millisecond
+}
+
 func main() {
 	s := runtimeStore{}
 	ws := stdio.NewWatchedStates() // one copy of what it reads, each state by its watch (ADR 0580 clause 2)
@@ -122,7 +141,8 @@ func main() {
 		return nil
 	})
 	for _, provider := range BoundReads {
-		go stdio.State(boundRead(provider)).Follow("", func(c stdio.StateChange) error {
+		// Into the copy the holder reads them from, its handler run after the copy took the change.
+		go ws.Follow(boundRead(provider), func(c stdio.StateChange) error {
 			if said, err := h.Rejudge(c.Key); err != nil {
 				logf("[%s] %s is not judged again: %v", Module, c.Key, err)
 			} else if said != "" {