diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/asks.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/asks.go
index ab616643..25c51d6a 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/asks.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/asks.go
@@ -313,7 +313,8 @@ func (h *Holder) rootFree(k KindInfo, cached bool) string {
 
 // warmRootFree asks the controller's root-free word for every kind that proves its sender, outside the work,
 // so what is rendered and offered inside it reads a recent word.
-func (h *Holder) warmRootFree() {
+// force asks even a recent word again: taking an ask, whose refusal its asker keeps until something changes.
+func (h *Holder) warmRootFree(force bool) {
 	if h.Bench == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -329,7 +330,7 @@ func (h *Holder) warmRootFree() {
 		h.mu.Lock()
 		kept, ok := h.rootWord[key]
 		h.mu.Unlock()
-		if ok && now.Sub(kept.at) >= 0 && now.Sub(kept.at) < RootFreeKept/2 {
+		if !force && ok && now.Sub(kept.at) >= 0 && now.Sub(kept.at) < RootFreeKept/2 {
 			continue // recent enough: asked again when half its time has gone
 		}
 		_ = h.rootFree(k, false)
@@ -396,7 +397,7 @@ const ConditionOwner = "mesh-controller"
 // grants that module alone. An error is returned only when the ask could not be recorded, so the queue
 // offers it again; a refusal is said to the asker and the work is taken.
 func (h *Holder) TakeAsk(verb, asker string, body json.RawMessage) error {
-	h.warmRootFree() // before the work: offering an approval reads the recent word inside it
+	h.warmRootFree(true) // fresh, before the work: an ask refused for no channel stays refused with its asker
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	h.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
index a45e424b..9351544b 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ func (h *Holder) cleared(key string, quiet bool) {
 // Tick does what time asks: reminders, retries, what is held, and forgetting what cleared long
 // enough ago that a new raise is a new message.
 func (h *Holder) Tick() {
-	h.warmRootFree() // outside the work: what is offered inside it reads a recent word
+	h.warmRootFree(false) // outside the work: what is offered inside it reads a recent word
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	h.mu.Lock()
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ func (h *Holder) Tick() {
 // Flush sends what is due on each channel; the runtime calls it every few seconds, so a held
 // message waits its window and not a minute more.
 func (h *Holder) Flush() {
-	h.warmRootFree() // outside the work: what is offered inside it reads a recent word
+	h.warmRootFree(false) // outside the work: what is offered inside it reads a recent word
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	h.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/link.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/link.go
index b19032a9..00beb17b 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/link.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/link.go
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func (h *Holder) offerDeskUnlink(id Identity) bool {
 // Link takes a link asked for on a kind: a code shown where only the operator sees it, or a refusal said on
 // the kind.
 func (h *Holder) Link(kind string, l asks.LinkAsked) string {
-	h.warmRootFree() // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
+	h.warmRootFree(false) // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	reply := func(title, body string) string {
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func (h *Holder) Link(kind string, l asks.LinkAsked) string {
 
 // Prove answers a code sent on a kind: the link it confirms, or why not. Never said in an event.
 func (h *Holder) Prove(kind string, c asks.Code) asks.ProofAnswer {
-	h.warmRootFree() // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
+	h.warmRootFree(false) // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	no := func(words string) asks.ProofAnswer { return asks.ProofAnswer{Accepted: false, Words: words} }
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/selfact.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/selfact.go
index b9956e88..bba67109 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/selfact.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/selfact.go
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func (h *Holder) selfAct(rec AskRecord, w asks.Warrant) {
 
 // Unlink asks the account linked on a kind whether it is to be unlinked: an approve ask put to it alone.
 func (h *Holder) Unlink(kind string) (map[string]any, error) {
-	h.warmRootFree() // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
+	h.warmRootFree(false) // outside the work: a question it asks reads a recent word
 	h.work.Lock()
 	defer h.work.Unlock()
 	ids := h.identitiesOf(kind)