diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
index 44a167b6..9182672c 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder.go
@@ -321,30 +321,31 @@ type Holder struct {
 	work sync.Mutex // one event, call or tick at a time
 	mu   sync.Mutex // what the status reads
 
-	open       map[string]*Record
-	recent     []Sent
-	refusals   []RefusalNote
-	outbox     map[string][]item
-	lastSend   map[string]time.Time
-	lastWarn   map[string]time.Time
-	lastTry    map[string]time.Time
-	capSaid    map[string]time.Time
-	chanErr    map[string]string
-	chanErrAt  map[string]time.Time
-	chanOK     map[string]time.Time
-	unreadable int
-	lastBad    string
-	lastBadAt  time.Time
-	saidOnce   map[string]time.Time
-	storeErr   string
-	heard      map[string]int
-	lastHeard  time.Time
-	started    time.Time
-	syncedAt   time.Time
-	syncErr    string
-	wantSync   bool
-	history    int
-	stale      int
+	open        map[string]*Record
+	recent      []Sent
+	refusals    []RefusalNote
+	outbox      map[string][]item
+	lastSend    map[string]time.Time
+	lastWarn    map[string]time.Time
+	lastTry     map[string]time.Time
+	capSaid     map[string]time.Time
+	tellCapSaid map[string]time.Time
+	chanErr     map[string]string
+	chanErrAt   map[string]time.Time
+	chanOK      map[string]time.Time
+	unreadable  int
+	lastBad     string
+	lastBadAt   time.Time
+	saidOnce    map[string]time.Time
+	storeErr    string
+	heard       map[string]int
+	lastHeard   time.Time
+	started     time.Time
+	syncedAt    time.Time
+	syncErr     string
+	wantSync    bool
+	history     int
+	stale       int
 	// tellSeq makes every tell's key its own, even when two calls land in the same instant.
 	tellSeq int
 	// answered is what came of each answer event, by its id: a redelivered one is acted on once.
@@ -376,6 +377,7 @@ func (h *Holder) init() {
 		h.lastWarn = map[string]time.Time{}
 		h.lastTry = map[string]time.Time{}
 		h.capSaid = map[string]time.Time{}
+		h.tellCapSaid = map[string]time.Time{}
 		h.chanErr = map[string]string{}
 		h.chanErrAt = map[string]time.Time{}
 		h.chanOK = map[string]time.Time{}
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder_test.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder_test.go
index 241b5dc2..e79286a9 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder_test.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/holder_test.go
@@ -576,6 +576,65 @@ func TestATellIsDroppedPastItsOwnHourlyCap(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestATellDoesNotCountTowardTheConditionsCap(t *testing.T) {
+	h, tg, _, c, _ := newHolder(t)
+	h.Desk = nil
+	// Bring conditions close to, but under, their own cap: CapPerHour-5.
+	for i := 0; i < CapPerHour-5; i++ {
+		h.Condition(EventRaised, cond(fmt.Sprintf("machine.m%d.silent", i), Urgent, "a machine is silent"))
+		c.pass(BurstWindow + time.Second)
+		h.Flush()
+	}
+	if len(tg.sends) != CapPerHour-5 {
+		t.Fatalf("sent %d conditions, want %d", len(tg.sends), CapPerHour-5)
+	}
+	// A full hour of tells: these must not be counted against the conditions' cap (ADR 0380 §8).
+	for i := 0; i < TellCapPerHour; i++ {
+		if _, err := h.Tell("mail", []string{"line"}, ""); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	h.Condition(EventRaised, cond("machine.mlast.silent", Urgent, "a machine is silent"))
+	c.pass(BurstWindow + time.Second)
+	h.Flush()
+	want := CapPerHour - 5 + TellCapPerHour + 1
+	if len(tg.sends) != want {
+		t.Fatalf("sent %d, want %d (the condition after the tells still sent)", len(tg.sends), want)
+	}
+	if last := tg.sends[len(tg.sends)-1]; strings.HasPrefix(last.Title, "Mesh messages paused for this hour") {
+		t.Fatalf("the condition was held behind the tells' sends: %q", last.Title)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATellCapDropIsLoggedOnceAnHour(t *testing.T) {
+	h, tg, _, _, _ := newHolder(t)
+	h.Desk = nil
+	var logs []string
+	h.Logf = func(format string, args ...any) { logs = append(logs, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)) }
+	for i := 0; i < TellCapPerHour; i++ {
+		if _, err := h.Tell("mail", []string{"line"}, ""); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		if _, err := h.Tell("mail", []string{"line"}, ""); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(tg.sends) != TellCapPerHour {
+		t.Fatalf("sent %d of %d", len(tg.sends), TellCapPerHour)
+	}
+	dropLogs := 0
+	for _, l := range logs {
+		if strings.Contains(l, "dropped") {
+			dropLogs++
+		}
+	}
+	if dropLogs != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("logged the drop %d times, want 1", dropLogs)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestATestMessageRespectsTheRule(t *testing.T) {
 	h, tg, dt, _, _ := newHolder(t)
 	if out := h.Test("telegram", "see https://example.org"); out["refused"] == "" || len(tg.sends) != 0 {
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
index 31159a63..ab11d4d3 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/outbox.go
@@ -609,7 +609,9 @@ func (h *Holder) sendNow(ch Channel, key, what string, m Message) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-// allow says whether a channel is under its cap: messages sent in the last hour, as recorded.
+// allow says whether a channel is under its cap: messages sent in the last hour, as recorded. A
+// tell is not counted here: it has its own cap (TellCapPerHour) so a burst of tells cannot crowd
+// out a condition or an ask (ADR 0380 §8).
 func (h *Holder) allow(channel string) bool {
 	return h.sentLastHour(channel) < CapPerHour
 }
@@ -620,7 +622,7 @@ func (h *Holder) sentLastHour(channel string) int {
 	since := h.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
 	n := 0
 	for _, s := range h.recent {
-		if s.Channel == channel && s.Outcome == "sent" && s.At.After(since) {
+		if s.Channel == channel && s.What != "tell" && s.Outcome == "sent" && s.At.After(since) {
 			n++
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/status.go b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/status.go
index 17a0cab6..cc89348a 100644
--- a/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/status.go
+++ b/modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/status.go
@@ -361,7 +361,16 @@ func (h *Holder) Tell(headline string, lines []string, subject string) (map[stri
 		}
 		if !h.allowTell(name) {
 			dropped = append(dropped, name)
-			h.Logf("[messenger] a tell was dropped on %s: it is at its own cap of %d tells an hour", name, TellCapPerHour)
+			h.mu.Lock()
+			said := h.tellCapSaid[name]
+			sayIt := said.IsZero() || now.Sub(said) >= time.Hour
+			if sayIt {
+				h.tellCapSaid[name] = now
+			}
+			h.mu.Unlock()
+			if sayIt {
+				h.Logf("[messenger] a tell was dropped on %s: it is at its own cap of %d tells an hour", name, TellCapPerHour)
+			}
 			h.record(Sent{At: now, Channel: name, Key: key, What: "tell",
 				Outcome: fmt.Sprintf("dropped: at its own cap of %d tells an hour", TellCapPerHour)})
 			continue