diff --git a/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand.go b/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand.go
index 16f97f6f..4fc0dba5 100644
--- a/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand.go
+++ b/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand.go
@@ -26,8 +26,16 @@ import (
 const HandTag = "hand"
 
 // BackUpNow is a backup asked for now, of every module or one: as a night, each restore point tagged HandTag.
+//
+// One that cannot start (the lock cannot be taken, the repository cannot be opened, the module declares nothing)
+// is recorded as that module's last night, failed and with the reason: the mesh asking before a delivery reads
+// it from backed-up, and would otherwise read silence (novox/hq issue 1067).
 func (b *Backups) BackUpNow(ctx context.Context, only string) (map[string]Night, error) {
-	return b.backUp(ctx, only, true)
+	out, err := b.backUp(ctx, only, true)
+	if err != nil && only != "" {
+		b.record(only, Night{OK: false, At: b.Now().UTC(), Error: err.Error()})
+	}
+	return out, err
 }
 
 // isHand is whether a restore point was taken by hand.
diff --git a/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand_test.go b/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand_test.go
index f59a8ef5..22af7160 100644
--- a/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand_test.go
+++ b/modules/restic/cmd/restic-backups/hand_test.go
@@ -324,3 +324,30 @@ func TestAThinningThatFailsAfterLettingGoSaysWhatItLetGo(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("said %q, want it to say aaaaaaaa was let go", why)
 	}
 }
+
+// A backup asked for now that cannot start leaves its failure as the module's last night, so the mesh asking
+// for it before a delivery reads the backup's own words from backed-up, not silence (novox/hq issue 1067).
+func TestABackupAskedForNowThatCannotStartIsRecordedAsThatModulesLastNight(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &handRestic{}
+	asked := time.Date(2026, 10, 17, 22, 50, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	b := &Backups{Where: placed(t, "# pg\npath /\n"), Run: h.run, Now: func() time.Time { return asked }, Say: quiet}
+	must(t, os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(b.Where.State, nightLock), 0o700)) // a directory cannot be opened read-write: the lock cannot be taken
+	if _, err := b.BackUpNow(context.Background(), "pg"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a backup started without its lock")
+	}
+	night, ok := b.Nights()["pg"]
+	if !ok || night.OK || night.Error == "" || !night.At.Equal(asked) {
+		t.Fatalf("pg's last night is %+v, want a failure at %s with the reason", night, asked)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(night.Error, nightLock) {
+		t.Errorf("the reason is %q, want it to name the lock", night.Error)
+	}
+	// Asked of a module that declares nothing here, once the lock can be taken: recorded too, with the reason.
+	must(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(b.Where.State, nightLock)))
+	if _, err := b.BackUpNow(context.Background(), "mail"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a backup of a module that declares nothing started")
+	}
+	if n := b.Nights()["mail"]; n.OK || !strings.Contains(n.Error, "declares nothing") {
+		t.Errorf("mail's last night is %+v, want a failure saying it declares nothing", n)
+	}
+}