diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
index 196855de..13d2eb5e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder.go
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ package main
 //   - **Retiring is asked** (clause 5): a key no longer needed is `retiring`, one approve ask under mesh-provisioner's
 //     name says what goes from which provider on which node; the warrant goes into the key and the provider acts on it;
 //     a decline is kept and not asked again while nothing changes; a key needed again returns to its outcome's state.
+//   - **Retiring is judged from a whole picture only** (issue 940, met before as 937 and 1332): no pass judges a
+//     retirement before every watched read has loaded once, nor while a module on the node has no composition published
+//     at its build; a key whose consumer still has a want or a have on the node, and no plan read in this pass, is left
+//     as it is; a pass that would retire most of a node's consumers at once retires nothing and says it as a fault of
+//     the mesh (provisioner_health), never as a question; at most askOpenAtMost asks stand open at once, and an ask the
+//     router does not hold is raised again.
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
@@ -84,7 +90,10 @@ type Composer func(ctx context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) C
 // Composition is a node's plans at its wanted builds and at its newest, and where the time went.
 type Composition struct {
 	AtWants, Newest HeldPlans
-	Took            []Phase
+	// Unpublished is each module whose composition at the build it is read at is not published yet: the node's picture
+	// is not whole, so no retirement is judged on it (issue 940).
+	Unpublished []string
+	Took        []Phase
 }
 
 // HeldPlans is one scope's plans by module, the modules held with why, and a failure that is no single module's.
@@ -114,8 +123,13 @@ type Holder struct {
 	Asks    Asker
 	Now     func() time.Time
 	Logf    func(format string, args ...any)
+	// Loaded says which watched reads have not loaded once yet, "" when all have (nil: all have). A pass before then
+	// judges nothing (issue 940: a first read that was not whole retired 21 routes of running apps).
+	Loaded func() string
 
 	mu sync.Mutex
+	// faults is, by node, the retirement a pass held back as a fault of the mesh (issue 940), said by provisioner_health.
+	faults map[string]string
 }
 
 // Composed is what one node's composition did.
@@ -149,7 +163,13 @@ func TookSaid(took []Took) string {
 }
 
 // ComposeNode composes one node: its plans and its provisions.
-func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (out Composed, err error) {
+func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (Composed, error) {
+	return h.ComposeNodeWith(ctx, node, false)
+}
+
+// ComposeNodeWith composes one node; retireMany lets this one pass retire more of the node's consumers at once than
+// the bound (manyAtOnce) allows, each still asked: the operator's word that a large removal is meant.
+func (h *Holder) ComposeNodeWith(ctx context.Context, node string, retireMany bool) (out Composed, err error) {
 	h.mu.Lock()
 	defer h.mu.Unlock()
 	out = Composed{Node: node}
@@ -163,13 +183,29 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (out Composed, er
 		start = now
 	}
 	defer func() { mark("whole", time.Since(began)) }()
+	if h.Loaded != nil {
+		if missing := h.Loaded(); missing != "" {
+			return out, fmt.Errorf("%s is not composed: %s has not loaded once yet, and a pass over a part judges nothing", node, missing)
+		}
+	}
 	wanted, err := h.wantedOn(node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return out, err
 	}
+	running, err := h.runningOn(node)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	// present is every module with a want or a have on the node: one of them with no plan read in this pass is not
+	// unneeded (issue 940).
+	present := map[string]bool{}
+	for module := range wanted {
+		present[module] = true
+	}
 	// A module held on the node with no want (the bus on the control-node) is composed at the build its have says it
 	// runs, so it has a plan too and its client keeps filling it (review of 2026-10-30).
-	for module, fp := range h.runningOn(node) {
+	for module, fp := range running {
+		present[module] = true
 		if _, ok := wanted[module]; !ok {
 			wanted[module] = fp
 		}
@@ -200,7 +236,22 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (out Composed, er
 	if err := h.writeRefused(node, heldAtWants); err != nil {
 		out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
 	}
-	if err := h.writePlans(node, atWants, heldAtWants, &out); err != nil {
+	// partial is why the node's picture is not whole in this pass: then nothing is removed or retired on it.
+	partial := ""
+	if len(c.Unpublished) > 0 {
+		partial = fmt.Sprintf("the composition of %s on %s is not published yet", strings.Join(c.Unpublished, ", "), node)
+	}
+	keep := heldAtWants
+	if partial != "" {
+		keep = map[string]string{}
+		for m, why := range heldAtWants {
+			keep[m] = why
+		}
+		for _, m := range c.Unpublished {
+			keep[m] = partial
+		}
+	}
+	if err := h.writePlans(node, atWants, keep, partial != "", &out); err != nil {
 		out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
 	}
 	lap("plans written")
@@ -259,8 +310,21 @@ func (h *Holder) ComposeNode(ctx context.Context, node string) (out Composed, er
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// A module with a want or a have on the node whose plan this pass did not read is left as it is: its keys are not
+	// judged unneeded (issue 940).
+	untouched := map[string]string{}
+	for m, why := range heldAtWants {
+		untouched[m] = why
+	}
+	for m := range present {
+		_, a := atWants[m]
+		_, n := newest[m]
+		if _, u := untouched[m]; !a && !n && !u {
+			untouched[m] = "it has a want or a have on " + node + " and no plan of it was read"
+		}
+	}
 	h.judgeElsewhere(elsewhere, &out)
-	h.judgeNode(node, needed, ahead, heldAtWants, &out)
+	h.judgeNode(node, needed, ahead, untouched, partial, retireMany, &out)
 	lap("provisions judged")
 	return out, nil
 }
@@ -419,11 +483,11 @@ func (h *Holder) wantedOn(node string) (map[string]string, error) {
 
 // runningOn is the fingerprint each module's have on a node says it runs, by module: what a module held without a want
 // is composed at.
-func (h *Holder) runningOn(node string) map[string]string {
+func (h *Holder) runningOn(node string) (map[string]string, error) {
 	out := map[string]string{}
 	keys, err := h.Store.Keys(HaveRead)
 	if err != nil {
-		return out
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the haves cannot be read: %w", err)
 	}
 	for _, k := range keys {
 		n, module, isNode, err := delivery.ParseHaveKey(k)
@@ -438,12 +502,13 @@ func (h *Holder) runningOn(node string) map[string]string {
 			out[module] = have.FP
 		}
 	}
-	return out
+	return out, nil
 }
 
 // writePlans writes each plan that differs and removes the node's plans of modules no longer composed there; a held
-// module's plan is kept as it was (issue 774).
-func (h *Holder) writePlans(node string, plans map[string]catalogue.Plan, held map[string]string, out *Composed) error {
+// module's plan is kept as it was (issue 774), and in a pass whose picture is partial no plan is removed (issue 940).
+func (h *Holder) writePlans(node string, plans map[string]catalogue.Plan, held map[string]string, partial bool,
+	out *Composed) error {
 	var problems []error
 	for _, module := range sortedKeys(plans) {
 		key, err := provisions.PlanKey(node, module)
@@ -477,7 +542,7 @@ func (h *Holder) writePlans(node string, plans map[string]catalogue.Plan, held m
 		if _, still := plans[module]; still {
 			continue
 		}
-		if _, kept := held[module]; kept {
+		if _, kept := held[module]; kept || partial {
 			continue
 		}
 		if err := h.Store.Delete(PlansState, k); err != nil {
@@ -489,14 +554,19 @@ func (h *Holder) writePlans(node string, plans map[string]catalogue.Plan, held m
 	return errors.Join(problems...)
 }
 
-// judgeNode brings the node's provision keys to what is needed and what each provider said. A key of a module held on
-// the node (heldModules) that its composition no longer names is left as it is: not composed is not unneeded.
+// judgeNode brings the node's provision keys to what is needed and what each provider said. A key of a module left
+// untouched (held on the node, or with a want or a have and no plan read in this pass) that its composition no longer
+// names is left as it is: not composed is not unneeded. While partial says why the node's picture is not whole, no key
+// turns retiring; and a pass that would retire most of the node's consumers at once retires none, said as a fault of
+// the mesh (issue 940), unless retireMany.
 func (h *Holder) judgeNode(node string, needed map[string]provisions.Provision, ahead map[string]string,
-	heldModules map[string]string, out *Composed) {
+	untouched map[string]string, partial string, retireMany bool, out *Composed) {
 	held := h.held(node)
+	consumers := map[string]bool{}
 	for key, have := range held {
+		consumers[have.Consumer.Module] = true
 		if _, isNeeded := needed[key]; !isNeeded && have.Consumer.Node == node {
-			if _, notComposed := heldModules[have.Consumer.Module]; notComposed {
+			if _, left := untouched[have.Consumer.Module]; left {
 				delete(held, key)
 			}
 		}
@@ -510,6 +580,39 @@ func (h *Holder) judgeNode(node string, needed map[string]provisions.Provision,
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// The keys this pass would turn retiring, and whose they are.
+	var newly []string
+	leaving := map[string]bool{}
+	for key, have := range held {
+		if _, isNeeded := needed[key]; !isNeeded && have.State != provisions.Retiring {
+			newly = append(newly, key)
+			leaving[have.Consumer.Module] = true
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(newly)
+	hold := func(why string) {
+		for _, key := range newly {
+			delete(held, key)
+		}
+		out.Problems = append(out.Problems, why)
+	}
+	switch {
+	case len(newly) == 0:
+		h.clearFault(node)
+	case partial != "":
+		hold(fmt.Sprintf("%d key(s) of %s are not judged retiring while %s: %s", len(newly), node, partial,
+			strings.Join(newly, ", ")))
+	case manyAtOnce(len(leaving), len(consumers)) && !retireMany:
+		fault := fmt.Sprintf("On %s, one pass would retire the provisions of %d of the %d consumers that hold any (%s): "+
+			"most likely a read stopped listing them (a node's compositions published in part, a want, a have or the "+
+			"placement not read whole), not their removal. Nothing is retired and nothing is asked; the keys stay as they "+
+			"were. If the removal is meant, provisioner_compose with retire-many retires them, each asked.",
+			node, len(leaving), len(consumers), strings.Join(sortedKeys(leaving), ", "))
+		hold(fault)
+		h.setFault(node, fault)
+	default:
+		h.clearFault(node)
+	}
 	for _, key := range unionKeys(needed, held) {
 		want, isNeeded := needed[key]
 		have, isHeld := held[key]
@@ -532,12 +635,12 @@ func (h *Holder) judgeNode(node string, needed map[string]provisions.Provision,
 			}
 		case have.State == provisions.Retiring:
 			next = have
+			if next.Ask != "" && next.Warrant == nil && !h.askHeld(next) {
+				out.Problems = append(out.Problems, "the router holds no ask "+next.Ask+" of "+key+": it is raised again")
+				next.Ask = ""
+			}
 			if next.Ask == "" && next.Warrant == nil {
-				if err := h.ask(&next, key); err != nil {
-					out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
-				} else {
-					out.Asked = append(out.Asked, key)
-				}
+				h.raise(&next, key, out)
 			}
 			if gone, why := h.retired(key, have); gone {
 				if err := h.Store.Delete(ProvisionsState, key); err != nil {
@@ -552,11 +655,7 @@ func (h *Holder) judgeNode(node string, needed map[string]provisions.Provision,
 			next.State, next.Why = provisions.Retiring, fmt.Sprintf("no build wanted or placed on %s requires %s of %s on %s "+
 				"any more", node, have.Provision, have.Provider.Module, have.Provider.Node)
 			next.Warrant = nil
-			if err := h.ask(&next, key); err != nil {
-				out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
-			} else {
-				out.Asked = append(out.Asked, key)
-			}
+			h.raise(&next, key, out)
 		}
 		if isHeld && same(have, next) {
 			continue
@@ -878,7 +977,33 @@ func retireAct(key, id, option string) asks.Act {
 	return asks.Act{"verb": "mesh-provisioner.retire", "provision": key, "ask": id, "option": option}
 }
 
-// ask raises the retiring ask of a key, under mesh-provisioner's own name; one already raised stands.
+// askOpenAtMost is how many of its asks mesh-provisioner keeps open at once: the router shows at most three per asker
+// and refuses the rest (issue 940: 18 of 21 retiring asks were refused so, yet counted asked). The next is raised as
+// one ends (Decide).
+const askOpenAtMost = 3
+
+// askHeldWithin is how long the router may take to hold an ask before an ask it holds no record of is raised again.
+const askHeldWithin = time.Minute
+
+// askWaits is what a retiring key's why says while its ask waits for an open one to end.
+const askWaits = "its ask waits until fewer than 3 of mesh-provisioner's asks stand open, the router showing at most 3 per asker"
+
+// errAskWaits is an ask held back by askOpenAtMost: no fault, raised once one ends.
+var errAskWaits = errors.New(askWaits)
+
+// raise asks a retiring key and says so in out: asked, waiting for an open ask to end, or a problem.
+func (h *Holder) raise(p *provisions.Provision, key string, out *Composed) {
+	switch err := h.ask(p, key); {
+	case err == nil:
+		out.Asked = append(out.Asked, key)
+	case errors.Is(err, errAskWaits):
+	default:
+		out.Problems = append(out.Problems, err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+// ask raises the retiring ask of a key, under mesh-provisioner's own name; one already raised stands. While
+// askOpenAtMost asks stand open it raises none and the key's why says so.
 func (h *Holder) ask(p *provisions.Provision, key string) error {
 	if p.Ask != "" {
 		return nil
@@ -886,6 +1011,12 @@ func (h *Holder) ask(p *provisions.Provision, key string) error {
 	if h.Asks == nil {
 		return errors.New("the operator cannot be asked from here, so " + key + " is retiring and nothing is removed")
 	}
+	if h.openAsks() >= askOpenAtMost {
+		if !strings.Contains(p.Why, askWaits) {
+			p.Why = strings.TrimPrefix(p.Why+"; "+askWaits, "; ")
+		}
+		return errAskWaits
+	}
 	now := h.Now().UTC()
 	id := "retire-" + strings.ReplaceAll(key, ".", "-") + "-" + fmt.Sprint(now.Unix())
 	a := retiringAsk(key, *p, now, id)
@@ -896,9 +1027,37 @@ func (h *Holder) ask(p *provisions.Provision, key string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("the retiring ask of %s could not be published: %w", key, err)
 	}
 	p.Ask = id
+	p.Why = strings.TrimSuffix(strings.TrimSuffix(p.Why, askWaits), "; ")
 	return nil
 }
 
+// openAsks is how many retiring keys hold an ask with no answer yet.
+func (h *Holder) openAsks() int {
+	n := 0
+	keys, _ := h.Store.Keys(ProvisionsState)
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		if e, err := h.Store.Get(ProvisionsState, k); err == nil && e != nil {
+			if p, err := provisions.Decode(e.Value); err == nil && p.State == provisions.Retiring && p.Ask != "" &&
+				p.Warrant == nil {
+				n++
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+// askHeld says the router holds a key's ask, or may not have taken it yet: false only when it has no record of it
+// askHeldWithin after it was raised (issue 940: an ask the router refused was counted asked for good).
+func (h *Holder) askHeld(p provisions.Provision) bool {
+	if h.Asks == nil || p.Ask == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	if _, found, err := h.Asks.Record(p.Ask); err != nil || found {
+		return true
+	}
+	return h.Now().Sub(p.At) < askHeldWithin
+}
+
 // Decide reads the router's record of each retiring key's ask and writes the warrant into the key (clause 5): the
 // provider acts on an Approve; a Decline is kept, and not asked again while nothing changes.
 func (h *Holder) Decide() []string {
@@ -922,6 +1081,14 @@ func (h *Holder) Decide() []string {
 			continue
 		}
 		raw, found, err := h.Asks.Record(p.Ask)
+		if err == nil && !found && h.Now().Sub(p.At) >= askHeldWithin {
+			// The router holds no record of it: not asked, raised again below once an open ask allows.
+			p.Ask = ""
+			p.Why = strings.TrimPrefix(p.Why+"; "+askWaits, "; ")
+			h.put(k, p)
+			said = append(said, k+": the router holds no ask of it; raised again")
+			continue
+		}
 		if err != nil || !found {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -963,9 +1130,74 @@ func (h *Holder) Decide() []string {
 		h.put(k, p)
 		said = append(said, k+": "+option+" by "+by)
 	}
+	return append(said, h.raiseWaiting()...)
+}
+
+// raiseWaiting raises the asks that wait for an open one to end, as many as askOpenAtMost allows: an answer, which
+// wakes Decide, is what frees a place.
+func (h *Holder) raiseWaiting() []string {
+	keys, err := h.Store.Keys(ProvisionsState)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var said []string
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		e, err := h.Store.Get(ProvisionsState, k)
+		if err != nil || e == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		p, err := provisions.Decode(e.Value)
+		if err != nil || p.State != provisions.Retiring || p.Ask != "" || p.Warrant != nil || !strings.Contains(p.Why, askWaits) {
+			continue
+		}
+		switch err := h.ask(&p, k); {
+		case errors.Is(err, errAskWaits):
+			return said
+		case err != nil:
+			said = append(said, k+": "+err.Error())
+		default:
+			h.put(k, p)
+			said = append(said, k+": asked")
+		}
+	}
 	return said
 }
 
+// manyAtOnce says a pass retiring the provisions of leaving consumers, of all the consumers holding a key on the node,
+// retires most of them at once: more than 3, or more than half and at least 2 (one consumer leaving is a removal, not
+// a fault).
+func manyAtOnce(leaving, all int) bool {
+	return leaving > 3 || (leaving >= 2 && 2*leaving > all)
+}
+
+func (h *Holder) setFault(node, why string) {
+	if h.faults == nil {
+		h.faults = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	if h.faults[node] != why {
+		h.Logf("[%s] %s", Module, why)
+	}
+	h.faults[node] = why
+}
+
+func (h *Holder) clearFault(node string) {
+	if _, ok := h.faults[node]; ok {
+		h.Logf("[%s] the retirement held back on %s is no longer judged", Module, node)
+		delete(h.faults, node)
+	}
+}
+
+// Faults is, by node, each retirement a pass held back as a fault of the mesh.
+func (h *Holder) Faults() map[string]string {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make(map[string]string, len(h.faults))
+	for n, why := range h.faults {
+		out[n] = why
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 func (h *Holder) put(key string, p provisions.Provision) {
 	p.At = h.Now().UTC()
 	if raw, err := provisions.Encode(p); err == nil {
@@ -1123,7 +1355,9 @@ func orSaid(words ...string) string {
 // builds a module is read at the fingerprint keptAt names, else at the indexer's newest (FP2); at the newest, each placed
 // module at FP2. A key whose engine refused the module holds it with the engine's words; a key not published yet holds
 // it at its wanted build (its last plan kept, as for a refusal) and leaves it out of the newest, whose build the engine
-// writes once it is done (ADR 0593 §6). A plan absent from a key is a module that hands the provisioner nothing.
+// writes once it is done (ADR 0593 §6), and says it unpublished, so the pass judges no retirement on the node (issue
+// 940). A placed module no build of which is known is held too. A plan absent from a key is a module that hands the
+// provisioner nothing.
 func FromCompositions(s Store) Composer {
 	return func(_ context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) Composition {
 		start := time.Now()
@@ -1134,7 +1368,11 @@ func FromCompositions(s Store) Composer {
 			at.Err, newest.Err = err, err
 			return Composition{AtWants: at, Newest: newest, Took: []Phase{{Name: "compositions read", Took: time.Since(start)}}}
 		}
-		placed, fp2 := placedModules(s, node)
+		placed, fp2, err := placedModules(s, node)
+		if err != nil {
+			at.Err, newest.Err = err, err
+			return Composition{AtWants: at, Newest: newest, Took: []Phase{{Name: "compositions read", Took: time.Since(start)}}}
+		}
 		atWants := map[string]string{}
 		for _, m := range placed {
 			atWants[m] = fp2[m]
@@ -1142,14 +1380,19 @@ func FromCompositions(s Store) Composer {
 		for m, fp := range keptAt {
 			atWants[m] = fp
 		}
+		var unpublished []string
 		for _, m := range sortedKeys(atWants) {
 			fp := atWants[m]
 			if fp == "" {
+				// Placed, with no want, no have and no newest build the indexer names: no build of it is known, which is
+				// not a module handing nothing (issue 940).
+				at.Held[m] = fmt.Sprintf("no build of %s on %s is known: no want, no have, and the indexer names no newest build", m, node)
 				continue
 			}
 			c, ok := published[composedAt(node, m, fp)]
 			switch {
 			case !ok:
+				unpublished = append(unpublished, m)
 				at.Held[m] = fmt.Sprintf("the composition of %s at %s is not published by the node-engine of %s yet", m, fp, node)
 			case c.Refused != "":
 				at.Held[m] = c.Refused
@@ -1170,7 +1413,8 @@ func FromCompositions(s Store) Composer {
 				newest.Plans[m] = *c.Plan
 			}
 		}
-		return Composition{AtWants: at, Newest: newest, Took: []Phase{{Name: "compositions read", Took: time.Since(start)}}}
+		return Composition{AtWants: at, Newest: newest, Unpublished: unpublished,
+			Took: []Phase{{Name: "compositions read", Took: time.Since(start)}}}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1216,16 +1460,18 @@ func publishedOn(s Store, node string) (map[string]publishedPlan, error) {
 }
 
 // placedModules is every module placed on node, sorted, and the indexer's newest fingerprint (FP2) of each.
-func placedModules(s Store, node string) ([]string, map[string]string) {
+func placedModules(s Store, node string) ([]string, map[string]string, error) {
 	raw := map[string][]byte{}
-	if keys, err := s.Keys(PlacementRead); err == nil {
-		for _, k := range keys {
-			if n, _, _, err := delivery.ParsePlacementKey(k); err != nil || n != node {
-				continue
-			}
-			if e, err := s.Get(PlacementRead, k); err == nil && e != nil {
-				raw[k] = e.Value
-			}
+	keys, err := s.Keys(PlacementRead)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("the placement cannot be read: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		if n, _, _, err := delivery.ParsePlacementKey(k); err != nil || n != node {
+			continue
+		}
+		if e, err := s.Get(PlacementRead, k); err == nil && e != nil {
+			raw[k] = e.Value
 		}
 	}
 	placements, _ := delivery.PlacementsOf(raw)
@@ -1244,7 +1490,7 @@ func placedModules(s Store, node string) ([]string, map[string]string) {
 		}
 	}
 	sort.Strings(placed)
-	return placed, fp2
+	return placed, fp2, nil
 }
 
 // WatchedReads are the states the holder reads whole, each from the watched copy (ADR 0580 clause 2): the placement,
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
index 0ba670fc..a1148ba1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holder_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/parser"
 	"go/token"
@@ -19,14 +20,19 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/provisions"
 )
 
-// router is the operator's channel as the holder asks on it.
+// router is the operator's channel as the holder asks on it: it holds an ask open, or, like the router past its open
+// asks per asker, holds no record of it (drop).
 type router struct {
 	asked   map[string]asks.Ask
 	records map[string][]byte
+	drop    bool
 }
 
 func (r *router) Publish(_ string, body any, id string) error {
 	r.asked[id] = body.(asks.Ask)
+	if !r.drop {
+		r.records[id], _ = json.Marshal(map[string]any{"state": "open", "ask": body})
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -58,20 +64,22 @@ type mesh struct {
 	atWant   map[string]map[string]catalogue.Plan
 	atNewest map[string]map[string]catalogue.Plan
 	heldAt   map[string]map[string]string // by node, the modules its composition at the wanted builds holds
-	composed []string
+	// unpublished is, by node, the modules whose composition is not published yet.
+	unpublished map[string][]string
+	composed    []string
 }
 
 func newMesh() *mesh {
 	m := &mesh{s: newStore(), r: &router{asked: map[string]asks.Ask{}, records: map[string][]byte{}},
 		atWant: map[string]map[string]catalogue.Plan{}, atNewest: map[string]map[string]catalogue.Plan{},
-		heldAt: map[string]map[string]string{}}
+		heldAt: map[string]map[string]string{}, unpublished: map[string][]string{}}
 	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 29, 22, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	m.h = &Holder{Store: m.s, Asks: m.r, Logf: func(string, ...any) {},
 		Now: func() time.Time { now = now.Add(time.Second); return now },
 		Compose: func(_ context.Context, node string, keptAt map[string]string) Composition {
 			m.composed = append(m.composed, node)
 			return Composition{AtWants: HeldPlans{Plans: m.atWant[node], Held: m.heldAt[node]},
-				Newest: HeldPlans{Plans: m.atNewest[node]}}
+				Newest: HeldPlans{Plans: m.atNewest[node]}, Unpublished: m.unpublished[node]}
 		}}
 	// What each provider's manifest declares: postgres, keycloak and the vault keep entries, the others report by their
 	// have.
@@ -566,3 +574,153 @@ func TestAKeyAheadOfItsWantCarriesItsPlanEntryAndSaysWhy(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("the planned key: %+v", pg)
 	}
 }
+
+// Issue 940 (met before as 937 and 1332): a retirement is judged from a whole picture only. At 2026-11-02 22:55:58 a
+// first pass after a new membership read a part, counted the modules missing from it as handing nothing, and asked the
+// operator to remove the routes of 21 running web apps; 3 s later the next pass put every plan back.
+func TestARetirementIsJudgedOnlyFromAWholePicture(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := "src2:" + strings.Repeat("ab", 32)
+	route := func(n int) catalogue.PlanProvision {
+		return catalogue.PlanProvision{Provision: "route", Provider: "novox", ProviderModule: "keycloak", Local: fmt.Sprint(n)}
+	}
+	apps := []string{"de-spiegel", "invoicing", "link2pay", "nextcloud", "photos", "website"}
+	for _, row := range []struct {
+		name     string
+		consumer int                     // how many of apps hold a key, each one
+		gone     int                     // how many of them the pass no longer composes
+		change   func(m *mesh)           // what else the pass sees
+		many     bool                    // the operator's retire-many
+		retiring int                     // keys retiring after the pass
+		asked    int                     // asks raised by the pass
+		problem  string                  // a part of a problem the pass says
+		fault    string                  // a part of the health's why, "" for healthy
+		after    func(*testing.T, *mesh) // a further check
+	}{
+		{name: "a read not loaded once: nothing judged", consumer: 6, gone: 6,
+			change: func(m *mesh) { m.h.Loaded = func() string { return WantsRead } }},
+		{name: "a module's composition not published: nothing retires", consumer: 2, gone: 1,
+			change: func(m *mesh) { m.unpublished["novox"] = []string{"gitea"} }, problem: "not published yet"},
+		{name: "a consumer that still has a want: not retired", consumer: 2, gone: 1,
+			change: func(m *mesh) {
+				m.s.write(t, WantsRead, "want.novox.de-spiegel", `{"v":1,"fp":"`+fp+`","self":true}`)
+			}},
+		{name: "a consumer that still has a have: not retired", consumer: 2, gone: 1,
+			change: func(m *mesh) {
+				m.s.write(t, HaveRead, "novox.de-spiegel", `{"v":1,"fp":"`+fp+`","phase":"running","health":"ok"}`)
+			}},
+		{name: "one consumer of two leaving: retired and asked", consumer: 2, gone: 1, retiring: 1, asked: 1},
+		{name: "most consumers at once: a fault, not a question", consumer: 6, gone: 6, problem: "a read stopped listing them",
+			fault: "6 of the 6 consumers"},
+		{name: "more than 3 at once, though fewer than half", consumer: 6, gone: 4, fault: "4 of the 6"},
+		{name: "the operator's retire-many: retired, at most 3 asked at once", consumer: 6, gone: 6, many: true,
+			retiring: 6, asked: askOpenAtMost, after: func(t *testing.T, m *mesh) {
+				var waiting int
+				for _, a := range apps {
+					if strings.Contains(m.state(t, "novox."+a+".route.1").Why, askWaits) {
+						waiting++
+					}
+				}
+				if waiting != 6-askOpenAtMost {
+					t.Errorf("%d keys say their ask waits, want %d", waiting, 6-askOpenAtMost)
+				}
+			}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(row.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			m := newMesh()
+			plans := map[string]catalogue.Plan{}
+			for i := range row.consumer {
+				plans[apps[i]] = planOf(route(1))
+			}
+			m.atWant["novox"], m.atNewest["novox"] = plans, plans
+			m.compose(t, "novox")
+			left := map[string]catalogue.Plan{}
+			for i := row.gone; i < row.consumer; i++ {
+				left[apps[i]] = plans[apps[i]]
+			}
+			m.atWant["novox"], m.atNewest["novox"] = left, left
+			if row.change != nil {
+				row.change(m)
+			}
+			c, err := m.h.ComposeNodeWith(context.Background(), "novox", row.many)
+			if m.h.Loaded != nil {
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), WantsRead) {
+					t.Errorf("a pass before every read loaded: %v", err)
+				}
+			} else if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			retiring := 0
+			for i := range row.consumer {
+				if m.state(t, "novox."+apps[i]+".route.1").State == provisions.Retiring {
+					retiring++
+				}
+			}
+			if retiring != row.retiring || len(c.Asked) != row.asked || len(m.r.asked) != row.asked {
+				t.Errorf("%d retiring, %d asked (%d published), want %d and %d: %+v", retiring, len(c.Asked),
+					len(m.r.asked), row.retiring, row.asked, c)
+			}
+			if row.problem != "" && !strings.Contains(strings.Join(c.Problems, " "), row.problem) {
+				t.Errorf("the problems %v do not say %q", c.Problems, row.problem)
+			}
+			if a := m.h.health(); (row.fault == "") != a.Healthy || !strings.Contains(a.Why, row.fault) ||
+				(row.fault != "" && !strings.Contains(a.Why, "retire-many")) {
+				t.Errorf("the health is %+v, want a fault saying %q", a, row.fault)
+			}
+			if row.fault != "" {
+				// The read whole again: the fault clears.
+				m.atWant["novox"], m.atNewest["novox"] = plans, plans
+				m.compose(t, "novox")
+				if a := m.h.health(); !a.Healthy {
+					t.Errorf("the fault stands once the picture is whole: %+v", a)
+				}
+			}
+			if row.after != nil {
+				row.after(t, m)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	// A placed module no build of which is known is held, not counted as handing nothing; one unpublished says so.
+	var c today
+	readJSON(t, "testdata/today-composed.json", &c)
+	s := goldenMesh(t, c)
+	published(t, s, c)
+	s.write(t, PlacementRead, "placement."+c.Node, `{"v":1,"node":"`+c.Node+`","decided":{},"modules":[{"module":"store"},`+
+		`{"module":"postgres"},{"module":"mesh-provisioner-client"},{"module":"restic"},{"module":"de-spiegel"}]}`)
+	got := FromCompositions(s)(context.Background(), c.Node, map[string]string{"photos": fp})
+	if !strings.Contains(got.AtWants.Held["de-spiegel"], "no build") || !slices.Equal(got.Unpublished, []string{"photos"}) {
+		t.Errorf("held %v, unpublished %v", got.AtWants.Held, got.Unpublished)
+	}
+}
+
+// Issue 940: an ask the router does not hold is not counted asked; it is raised again once an open ask ends.
+func TestAnAskTheRouterDoesNotHoldIsRaisedAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newMesh()
+	key := "g14.gitea.postgres-database"
+	m.atWant["g14"] = map[string]catalogue.Plan{"gitea": planOf(pgDB), "dunst": planOf(oidc)}
+	m.compose(t, "g14")
+	m.atWant["g14"] = map[string]catalogue.Plan{"dunst": planOf(oidc)}
+	m.r.drop = true
+	m.compose(t, "g14")
+	first := m.state(t, key).Ask
+	if first == "" {
+		t.Fatal("not asked")
+	}
+	m.r.drop = false
+	steps := []struct {
+		name  string
+		later time.Duration
+		held  bool // the router holds an ask of the key after the step
+	}{
+		{"within a minute the router may not have taken it yet", 0, false},
+		{"a minute on, with no record: raised again", 2 * time.Minute, true},
+	}
+	for _, s := range steps {
+		now := m.h.Now()
+		m.h.Now = func() time.Time { now = now.Add(time.Second); return now.Add(s.later) }
+		m.h.Decide()
+		p := m.state(t, key)
+		if _, held := m.r.records[p.Ask]; held != s.held || (s.held && p.Ask == first) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the key's ask is %q, the router holds it: %v", s.name, p.Ask, held)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holdertools.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holdertools.go
index 12b4c906..a617e3d0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holdertools.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/holdertools.go
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
 // The holder's tools (novox/hq ADR 0570 Consequences, ADR 0564 §12's rule): a read of every key of `provisions` and
-// `plans`, one key whole, each state's fill, making one node's plans now, and reading the operator's answers now.
+// `plans`, one key whole, each state's fill, making one node's plans now (retiring more at once on the operator's
+// word), reading the operator's answers now, and its health: a retirement held back as a fault of the mesh (issue 940).
 
 import (
 	"context"
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/health"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/provisions"
 )
 
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 	PlansTool      = "provisioner_plans"
 	ComposeTool    = "provisioner_compose"
 	DecideTool     = "provisioner_decide"
+	HealthTool     = "provisioner_health"
 )
 
 func str(d string) map[string]any { return map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": d} }
@@ -57,22 +60,44 @@ func holderTools(h *Holder) []stdio.Tool {
 		{Name: ComposeTool,
 			Description: "Make one node's plans and provisions now from the node-engine's published compositions and the " +
 				"providers' outcomes, as a change event would (it composes nothing), and say what was written, removed, " +
-				"changed and asked, and where the time went.",
-			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{"node": str("the node")},
+				"changed and asked, and where the time went. A pass that would retire the provisions of most of the " +
+				"node's consumers at once retires none and says it as a fault (provisioner_health); retire-many: true " +
+				"is the operator's word that such a removal is meant, and retires them in this pass, each asked.",
+			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{"node": str("the node"),
+				"retire-many": map[string]any{"type": "boolean", "description": "retire past the bound in this pass"}},
 				"required": []string{"node"}},
 			Run: func(a map[string]any) (any, error) {
 				if arg(a, "node") == "" {
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf("compose names the node")
 				}
-				return h.ComposeNode(context.Background(), arg(a, "node"))
+				many, _ := a["retire-many"].(bool)
+				return h.ComposeNodeWith(context.Background(), arg(a, "node"), many)
 			}},
 		{Name: DecideTool,
 			Description: "Read the operator's answers to every retiring provision's ask now, writing each warrant into its " +
 				"key, as the router's word on an ask would.",
 			Run: func(map[string]any) (any, error) { return map[string]any{"said": h.Decide()}, nil }},
+		{Name: HealthTool,
+			Description: "The provisioner's runtime health, as the node-engine asks it (novox/hq ADR 0366): unhealthy while " +
+				"a pass held back a retirement of most of a node's consumers at once as a fault of the mesh (issue 940), " +
+				"naming the node, the consumers and the likely cause; healthy once a pass over that node judges none.",
+			Run: func(map[string]any) (any, error) { return h.health(), nil }},
 	}
 }
 
+// health is the holder's runtime health: unhealthy while a retirement is held back as a fault of the mesh.
+func (h *Holder) health() health.Answer {
+	faults := h.Faults()
+	if len(faults) == 0 {
+		return health.Healthy("No pass holds back a retirement of most of a node's consumers.")
+	}
+	var said []string
+	for _, n := range sortedKeys(faults) {
+		said = append(said, faults[n])
+	}
+	return health.Unhealthy(strings.Join(said, " "))
+}
+
 // read is a state's keys narrowed, or one whole, with the state's fill.
 func (h *Holder) read(state, key, node, want string) (any, error) {
 	if key != "" {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
index ad007f0d..7ea6bfe4 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/cmd/mesh-provisioner/main.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -68,6 +69,52 @@ func (runtimeAsks) Record(id string) ([]byte, bool, error) {
 	return e.Value, true, nil
 }
 
+// loads is which of the reads a pass composes from have loaded once: their watch took every current value.
+type loads struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	want   []string
+	loaded map[string]bool
+}
+
+func newLoads(states ...string) *loads { return &loads{want: states, loaded: map[string]bool{}} }
+
+func (l *loads) done(state string) {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	l.loaded[state] = true
+}
+
+// missing names the reads not loaded yet, "" once all are.
+func (l *loads) missing() string {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	var out []string
+	for _, s := range l.want {
+		if !l.loaded[s] {
+			out = append(out, s)
+		}
+	}
+	return strings.Join(out, ", ")
+}
+
+// heldBack is, once every read has loaded, every node the placement names: the passes their loads held back.
+func (l *loads) heldBack(h *Holder) []string {
+	if l.missing() != "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	keys, err := h.Store.Keys(PlacementRead)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	nodes := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		for _, n := range NodesOfPlacement(k) {
+			nodes[n] = true
+		}
+	}
+	return sortedKeys(nodes)
+}
+
 // work is the nodes a change touched, composed one at a time by one worker: no timer, a change's event is the wake.
 type work struct {
 	mu      sync.Mutex
@@ -128,14 +175,25 @@ func main() {
 	h := &Holder{Store: Watching(s, ws), Asks: runtimeAsks{}, Now: time.Now, Logf: logf}
 	h.Compose = FromCompositions(h.Store) // the node-engines' published compositions, from the copy (ADR 0593 §8)
 	w := &work{pending: map[string]bool{}, wake: make(chan struct{}, 1)}
+	// No pass judges before every read it composes from has loaded once (issue 940); each load wakes every node it
+	// held back, through its follower's handler.
+	loads := newLoads(PlacementRead, WantsRead, ComposedRead, HaveRead, ModulesRead)
+	h.Loaded = loads.missing
 	go w.run(h)
 	go starting(h)
 	// Each watch's handler runs after the copy took its change, so a composition it wakes reads the copy that change made.
-	go ws.Follow(PlacementRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfPlacement(c.Key)...); return nil })
-	go ws.Follow(WantsRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfWant(c.Key)...); return nil })
-	go ws.Follow(ComposedRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfNodeKey(c.Key)...); return nil })
-	go ws.Follow(HaveRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfNodeKey(c.Key)...); return nil })
-	go ws.Follow(ModulesRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error {
+	follow := func(state string, then func(stdio.StateChange) error) {
+		go func() {
+			ws.Follow(state, then)
+			loads.done(state)
+			w.add(loads.heldBack(h)...)
+		}()
+	}
+	follow(PlacementRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfPlacement(c.Key)...); return nil })
+	follow(WantsRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfWant(c.Key)...); return nil })
+	follow(ComposedRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfNodeKey(c.Key)...); return nil })
+	follow(HaveRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error { w.add(NodesOfNodeKey(c.Key)...); return nil })
+	follow(ModulesRead, func(c stdio.StateChange) error {
 		if module, err := delivery.ParseModulesKey(c.Key); err == nil {
 			w.add(h.NodesOfModule(module)...)
 		}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-provisioner/module.json b/modules/mesh-provisioner/module.json
index 05a747a8..e14cb7e3 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-provisioner/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-provisioner/module.json
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
     "provisioner_provisions",
     "provisioner_plans",
     "provisioner_compose",
-    "provisioner_decide"
+    "provisioner_decide",
+    "provisioner_health"
   ],
   "state": [
     "registry",
@@ -48,6 +49,14 @@
     "broker": "${dir:state}/broker"
   },
   "secrets-owner": "mesh-provisioner",
+  "runtime-health": {
+    "kind": "tool",
+    "tool": "provisioner_health",
+    "interval": "60s",
+    "timeout": "10s",
+    "looks": 2,
+    "grace": "60s"
+  },
   "resources": [
     {
       "id": "account",