diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/details_test.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/details_test.go
index 8dba0d35..def1cb06 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/details_test.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/details_test.go
@@ -164,3 +164,36 @@ func TestDetailsOnAMessageWithAnOpenAskNeverAnswersIt(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Details ended the ask: %s", st)
 	}
 }
+
+// A channel that stays unready makes no ticket at its tries: composing a message makes its Details ticket,
+// and tickets made at every try would push out those of the messages already shown.
+func TestAnUnreadyChannelPushesOutNoShownDetails(t *testing.T) {
+	h, tg, _, c, _ := newHolder(t)
+	h.Desk = nil
+	k := cond("machine.ace.silent", Warning, "the home server is silent")
+	k.Raised = c.now()
+	h.Condition(EventRaised, k)
+	settle(h, c)
+	tok := detailsOf(t, tg.sends[0])
+	k.Severity = Urgent
+	h.Condition(EventChanged, k)
+	tg.notReady = fmt.Errorf("telegram is away")
+	for i := 0; i < 3*MostDetails; i++ {
+		c.pass(2 * time.Minute)
+		h.Flush()
+	}
+	if n := len(h.open[k.Key].Tokens); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("%d tickets after the tries, want the one shown", n)
+	}
+	tg.notReady = nil
+	c.pass(2 * time.Minute)
+	h.Flush()
+	if len(tg.sends) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d messages, want 2", len(tg.sends))
+	}
+	for _, tk := range []string{tok, detailsOf(t, tg.sends[1])} {
+		if out, err := h.Chosen("telegram", choiceOf(tk, "42", c.now())); err != nil || out != "shown" {
+			t.Errorf("Details: %q %v", out, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
index f72279b3..4ef00ac2 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ type Record struct {
 	Explanation string `json:"explanation,omitempty"`
 	Resolved    string `json:"resolved,omitempty"`
 	// Needs is what the operator does, empty for nothing; Actions the answers offered, each by a token
-	// (Tokens: token -> the action's index, or -1 for the details) a channel hands back when chosen.
+	// (Tokens: token -> its grant; Index -1 is Details, one per message shown) a channel hands back when chosen.
 	Needs   string   `json:"needs,omitempty"`
 	Actions []Action `json:"actions,omitempty"`
 	// Kept as "grants": the build before ADR 0258 kept "tokens" as token -> index, which this form cannot
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
index d3c473a3..1b264e4d 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
@@ -243,6 +243,14 @@ func (h *Holder) flushChannel(ch Channel, now time.Time, force bool) {
 	if len(list) == 0 || (!force && !h.due(ch, list, now)) {
 		return
 	}
+	taken := len(list)
+	// Asked before the messages are composed: composing one makes its Details ticket, and a channel that
+	// stays unready would make one at every try, pushing out the tickets of messages already shown (issue 371).
+	if err := ch.Ready(); err != nil {
+		h.noteChannel(name, err)
+		h.failed(ch, list, taken, now, err)
+		return
+	}
 	var entries []entry
 	for _, it := range list {
 		r, m := h.resolve(it, now, name)
@@ -251,16 +259,10 @@ func (h *Holder) flushChannel(ch Channel, now time.Time, force bool) {
 		}
 		entries = append(entries, entry{it, r, *m})
 	}
-	taken := len(list)
 	if len(entries) == 0 {
 		h.drop(name, taken)
 		return
 	}
-	if err := ch.Ready(); err != nil {
-		h.noteChannel(name, err)
-		h.failed(ch, list, taken, now, err)
-		return
-	}
 	if !h.allow(name) {
 		// The last line of defence: said once, in a message of its own, and the rest held.
 		h.mu.Lock()