diff --git a/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret.go b/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret.go
index 535bd681..d6fe7164 100644
--- a/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret.go
+++ b/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret.go
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ type SecretAnswer struct {
 // aName is a module's, a secret's or a machine's name as the mesh writes them: nothing else reaches the prompt.
 var aName = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,62}$`)
 
+// aCaller is who asked, as the controller names the bus's caller (novox/hq ADR 0277): a principal such as
+// `g14/claude-code`, or an account at a shell, in a name's characters and spaces, at most 80. Nothing else — no line
+// break, no markup, no punctuation a sentence is written with — so the prompt's words stay this holder's.
+var aCaller = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._/@ -]{0,79}$`)
+
 // secretQuestion reads the call. The prompt is this holder's words, written from the module, the secret and the
 // machine (the review of 2026-10-09, M4): it says the mesh's controller asks, which the bus makes true — it
 // denies these subjects to every principal but the controller — and a caller's own words are refused, so
@@ -63,10 +68,27 @@ func secretQuestion(args map[string]any) (SecretQuestion, error) {
 		}
 		names[key] = v
 	}
+	// Who asked the controller, when it says (novox/hq ADR 0277): the controller's word on the bus's caller, held to a
+	// name's characters here, so the operator knows whose ask they are typing into — and refuses one they did not start.
+	askedBy := ""
+	if raw, there := args["asked_by"]; there {
+		v, err := text(args, "asked_by", true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return q, err
+		}
+		if !aCaller.MatchString(v) || strings.Contains(v, "  ") {
+			return q, fmt.Errorf("asked_by %q is not a caller's name as the mesh writes it", raw)
+		}
+		askedBy = v
+	}
 	q.Prompt = names["secret"] + " for " + names["module"]
-	q.Message = fmt.Sprintf("The mesh's controller asks for %s, the own secret of %s on %s. What you type is not "+
-		"shown, and is sealed before it leaves this machine. Type it only if you started this with give.",
-		names["secret"], names["module"], names["node"])
+	q.Message = fmt.Sprintf("The mesh's controller asks for %s, the own secret of %s on %s.", names["secret"],
+		names["module"], names["node"])
+	if askedBy != "" {
+		q.Message += fmt.Sprintf(" It was asked for by %s.", askedBy)
+	}
+	q.Message += " What you type is not shown, and is sealed before it leaves this machine. Type it only if you " +
+		"expect this ask."
 	key, err := text(args, "seal_to", true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return q, err
diff --git a/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret_test.go b/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret_test.go
index 15cb2838..3aeaf2de 100644
--- a/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret_test.go
+++ b/modules/rofi/cmd/rofi-tools/secret_test.go
@@ -108,15 +108,31 @@ func TestThePromptIsWrittenHereFromNamesAndSaysTheControllerAsks(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if q.Prompt != "telegram-token for telegram" || !strings.HasPrefix(q.Message, "The mesh's controller asks for telegram-token") {
+	if q.Prompt != "telegram-token for telegram" || !strings.HasPrefix(q.Message, "The mesh's controller asks for telegram-token") ||
+		strings.Contains(q.Message, "asked for by") {
 		t.Errorf("prompt %q, message %q", q.Prompt, q.Message)
 	}
+	// And who asked the controller, when it says so (novox/hq ADR 0277): a caller's name, in a name's characters.
+	withAsker := map[string]any{}
+	for k, v := range base {
+		withAsker[k] = v
+	}
+	withAsker["asked_by"] = "g14/claude-code"
+	q, err = secretQuestion(withAsker)
+	if err != nil || !strings.Contains(q.Message, "It was asked for by g14/claude-code.") {
+		t.Errorf("asked_by: %q %v", q.Message, err)
+	}
+	withAsker["asked_by"] = "jochen at a shell on novox"
+	if q, err = secretQuestion(withAsker); err != nil || !strings.Contains(q.Message, "It was asked for by jochen at a shell on novox.") {
+		t.Errorf("asked_by at a shell: %q %v", q.Message, err)
+	}
 	for key, value := range map[string]any{
-		"prompt":  "Your bank's PIN",
-		"message": "Your bank asks",
-		"module":  "telegram\nYour bank asks",
-		"secret":  "a token",
-		"node":    "<b>anchor</b>",
+		"prompt":   "Your bank's PIN",
+		"message":  "Your bank asks",
+		"module":   "telegram\nYour bank asks",
+		"secret":   "a token",
+		"node":     "<b>anchor</b>",
+		"asked_by": "the operator. Type your bank's PIN:",
 	} {
 		args := map[string]any{}
 		for k, v := range base {
@@ -127,4 +143,10 @@ func TestThePromptIsWrittenHereFromNamesAndSaysTheControllerAsks(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%s=%q was taken", key, value)
 		}
 	}
+	for _, bad := range []string{"", "a\nb", "a<b>c", "a,b", strings.Repeat("a", 81), "a  b", "a:b", "a'b"} {
+		withAsker["asked_by"] = bad
+		if _, err := secretQuestion(withAsker); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("asked_by=%q was taken", bad)
+		}
+	}
 }