diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/issue438_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/issue438_test.go
index 6467cbeb..9895e6fd 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/issue438_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/issue438_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ func TestAHeadWhoseCheckStartedAndNeverAnsweredIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("the line does not say %q: %s", want, l.Says)
 		}
 	}
+	if want := []string{"mesh/merge-gate pending since 2026-10-11T00:11:39Z", "mesh/repo-check never set"}; !slices.Equal(l.Waiting, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("the line's checks waited on are %q, not %q", l.Waiting, want)
+	}
+	raw, _ := json.Marshal(l)
+	t.Logf("the line as the controller reads it: %s", raw) // mesh-controller's test of its words reads this line
 	if strings.Contains(l.Says, "mesh/delivery") {
 		t.Fatalf("the line names a status that is not the merge check: %s", l.Says)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/unchecked.go b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/unchecked.go
index 9bef2f7d..78acea05 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/unchecked.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/unchecked.go
@@ -208,9 +208,9 @@ func (h *Holder) uncheckedLines(now time.Time) []StalledLine {
 		says := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s#%d is open on %s, which requires the merge check, and its head has had no merge "+
 			"check: the mesh was never asked to check it. A new commit on its branch announces it",
 			u.pull.Owner, u.pull.Repo, u.pull.Number, u.pull.Base)
-		state := Unannounced
+		state, waiting := Unannounced, []string(nil)
 		if u.started() {
-			state = Unanswered
+			state, waiting = Unanswered, u.waiting
 			says = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s#%d is open on %s, which requires the merge check, and its head's check started "+
 				"and never answered: %s. No delivery of it is held here, so nothing asks it again. A new commit on "+
 				"its branch announces it and asks its check", u.pull.Owner, u.pull.Repo, u.pull.Number, u.pull.Base,
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func (h *Holder) uncheckedLines(now time.Time) []StalledLine {
 		}
 		out = append(out, StalledLine{ID: id, Number: u.pull.Number, State: state, For: now.Sub(u.first).Round(time.Second).String(),
 			Bound: u.bound().String(),
-			H2:    h2, Says: says})
+			H2:    h2, Says: says, Waiting: waiting})
 	}
 	return out
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/verbs.go b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/verbs.go
index 4523661e..a1800c04 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/verbs.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery/cmd/mesh-delivery/verbs.go
@@ -170,11 +170,15 @@ type StalledLine struct {
 	Number int   `json:"number,omitempty"`
 	State  State `json:"state"`
 	// Walk is the walk a line of the state Unheld is about (novox/hq issue 362).
-	Walk  string `json:"walk,omitempty"`
-	For   string `json:"for"`
-	Bound string `json:"bound"`
-	H2    string `json:"h2"`
-	Says  string `json:"says"`
+	Walk string `json:"walk,omitempty"`
+	// Waiting are the merge checks a line of the state Unanswered waits on, each as it reads — "mesh/repo-check
+	// never set", "mesh/merge-gate pending since <UTC time>" — so the controller's words name them without reading
+	// Says (novox/hq issue 438).
+	Waiting []string `json:"waiting,omitempty"`
+	For     string   `json:"for"`
+	Bound   string   `json:"bound"`
+	H2      string   `json:"h2"`
+	Says    string   `json:"says"`
 }
 
 // Stalled is the `stalled` verb: what the controller's self-check raises as `delivery.<id>.stalled`.