diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/announce.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/announce.go
index 2543242e..2163bca1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/announce.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/announce.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ var Kept = []announce.State{
 	{Name: "toolchains", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "keys", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "steps", Readable: true},
+	{Name: "pauses", Readable: true},
 }
 
 // keepStates announces Kept as this module's (stdio.Keeps): main calls it before it serves.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go
index 98e98a2c..f7ba3cea 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go
@@ -89,13 +89,13 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
-	if m.ReadSteps.Get != nil {
+	if m.ReadPauses.Get != nil {
 		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) {
-			raw, err := m.ReadSteps.Get(key)
+			raw, err := m.ReadPauses.Get(key)
 			return raw, err
 		}
 	}
-	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskGo, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, Load: load,
+	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskGo, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
 		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Check(ctx); err != nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/main.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/main.go
index d9e0da20..93058f02 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/main.go
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ func main() {
 		Emit:                func(t string, b any) error { return stdio.Emit(t, b) },
 		Steps:               stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
 		ReadSteps:           readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
+		Pauses:              stdio.State(delivery.PausesState).Put,
+		ReadPauses:          readOf(stdio.State(delivery.PausesState)),
 		ReadToolchainsState: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.ToolchainsState)),
 		Ctx:                 ctx,
 		Say:                 logf,
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/manifest_test.go
index 7ddfe322..dcf6fd8b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/manifest_test.go
@@ -92,9 +92,13 @@ func TestManifestKeepsItsStatesClaimsItsBuildSeatAndDeclaresItsHealthTool(t *tes
 	states := []string{}
 	for _, s := range m.State {
 		states = append(states, s.Name)
+		// A step's key is per step and dropped after its age, so the bucket cannot fill; a pause has no age.
+		if (s.Name == "steps") != (s.TTLSeconds > 0) {
+			t.Errorf("state %s has ttl-seconds %d: only steps has an age", s.Name, s.TTLSeconds)
+		}
 	}
 	slices.Sort(states)
-	if want := []string{"keys", "steps", "toolchains"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
+	if want := []string{"keys", "pauses", "steps", "toolchains"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
 		t.Errorf("state = %v, want %v", states, want)
 	}
 	if len(m.Claims) != 1 || m.Claims[0].Name != Seat {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module.go
index 48903962..f7ef5317 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module.go
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ type Module struct {
 	Toolchains, Steps buildstep.Put
 	// ReadSteps and ReadToolchainsState read those two states back for the read tools (issue 1562).
 	ReadSteps, ReadToolchainsState StateRead
+	// Pauses is the Put of the pauses state, which keeps the node's pause key without an age; ReadPauses reads it back.
+	Pauses     buildstep.Put
+	ReadPauses StateRead
 	// Emit tells the bus an event (stdio.Emit); nil emits nothing. The guard emits toolchain.reported after each write of
 	// the toolchains key, so the indexer, which holds no timer, learns that the bucket exists (issue 1444).
 	Emit func(eventType string, body any) error
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod b/modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod
index d7662595..f2ce3bf2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildgo
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum b/modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum
index 6481c96b..2bc2434a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373 h1:Bykd8L6nHGNsvpHk3hLMeOct75UwlboHxasqB4cGKvQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8 h1:x4mvY7yiGTP5lnzxbiwyj1o24p05hAmzZP7xHg3XX2M=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/module.json b/modules/mesh-build-go/module.json
index 600345e3..6346a6ad 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/module.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   "state": [
     "toolchains",
     "keys",
-    "steps"
+    {"name": "steps", "ttl-seconds": 172800}, "pauses"
   ],
   "claims": [
     {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/announce.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/announce.go
index 616e78c1..ee48ed0a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/announce.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/announce.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 var Kept = []announce.State{
 	{Name: "keys", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "steps", Readable: true},
+	{Name: "pauses", Readable: true},
 }
 
 // keepStates announces Kept as this module's (stdio.Keeps): main calls it before it serves.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/asks.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/asks.go
index fe987adc..a62e583d 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/asks.go
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
-	if m.ReadSteps.Get != nil {
-		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadSteps.Get(key) }
+	if m.ReadPauses.Get != nil {
+		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadPauses.Get(key) }
 	}
-	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskImage, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, Load: load,
+	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskImage, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
 		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Check(ctx); err != nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/main.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/main.go
index 1fc279c3..2d4e6aa2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/main.go
@@ -29,13 +29,15 @@ func logf(format string, a ...any) { fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[mesh-build-image]
 func main() {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	m := &Module{
-		Node:      strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("MESH_NODE")),
-		Steps:     stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
-		ReadSteps: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
-		Ctx:       ctx,
-		Say:       logf,
-		Work:      WorkDir,
-		Store:     StoreDir,
+		Node:       strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("MESH_NODE")),
+		Steps:      stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
+		ReadSteps:  readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
+		Pauses:     stdio.State(delivery.PausesState).Put,
+		ReadPauses: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.PausesState)),
+		Ctx:        ctx,
+		Say:        logf,
+		Work:       WorkDir,
+		Store:      StoreDir,
 	}
 	m.Floor = floorOf(m.Node)
 	if u, err := user.Current(); err == nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/manifest_test.go
index b8be9de0..9b424a22 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/manifest_test.go
@@ -97,9 +97,13 @@ func TestManifestKeepsItsStatesClaimsItsBuildSeatAndDeclaresItsHealthTool(t *tes
 	states := []string{}
 	for _, s := range m.State {
 		states = append(states, s.Name)
+		// A step's key is per step and dropped after its age, so the bucket cannot fill; a pause has no age.
+		if (s.Name == "steps") != (s.TTLSeconds > 0) {
+			t.Errorf("state %s has ttl-seconds %d: only steps has an age", s.Name, s.TTLSeconds)
+		}
 	}
 	slices.Sort(states)
-	if want := []string{"keys", "steps"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
+	if want := []string{"keys", "pauses", "steps"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
 		t.Errorf("state = %v, want %v", states, want)
 	}
 	if len(m.Claims) != 1 || m.Claims[0].Name != Seat || !slices.Equal(m.Claims[0].Serves, []string{"current", "pause", "resume"}) {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/module.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/module.go
index 71d3d1af..76a14c71 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/module.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/module.go
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ type Module struct {
 	// Steps is the Put of the steps state; ReadSteps reads it back for the read tools.
 	Steps     buildstep.Put
 	ReadSteps StateRead
+	// Pauses is the Put of the pauses state, which keeps the node's pause key without an age; ReadPauses reads it back.
+	Pauses     buildstep.Put
+	ReadPauses StateRead
 	// Ctx is the process's context, which a step runs under (the tool call's is cut at 30 s, the step's is not).
 	Ctx context.Context
 	Say func(format string, a ...any)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/go.mod b/modules/mesh-build-image/go.mod
index 12c90763..d61c482e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildimage
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/go.sum b/modules/mesh-build-image/go.sum
index f9d4f1cd..8a877fdd 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373 h1:Bykd8L6nHGNsvpHk3hLMeOct75UwlboHxasqB4cGKvQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8 h1:x4mvY7yiGTP5lnzxbiwyj1o24p05hAmzZP7xHg3XX2M=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/module.json b/modules/mesh-build-image/module.json
index cfe8489f..6e25dbfa 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/module.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   ],
   "state": [
     "keys",
-    "steps"
+    {"name": "steps", "ttl-seconds": 172800}, "pauses"
   ],
   "claims": [
     {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/announce.go b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/announce.go
index 2543242e..2163bca1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/announce.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/announce.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ var Kept = []announce.State{
 	{Name: "toolchains", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "keys", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "steps", Readable: true},
+	{Name: "pauses", Readable: true},
 }
 
 // keepStates announces Kept as this module's (stdio.Keeps): main calls it before it serves.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go
index 2e7c4f2e..7926b195 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
-	if m.ReadSteps.Get != nil {
-		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadSteps.Get(key) }
+	if m.ReadPauses.Get != nil {
+		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadPauses.Get(key) }
 	}
-	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskNode, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, Load: load,
+	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskNode, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
 		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Prepare(ctx); err != nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/main.go b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/main.go
index 0856bd77..94344992 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/main.go
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ func main() {
 		Emit:                func(t string, b any) error { return stdio.Emit(t, b) },
 		Steps:               stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
 		ReadSteps:           readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
+		Pauses:              stdio.State(delivery.PausesState).Put,
+		ReadPauses:          readOf(stdio.State(delivery.PausesState)),
 		ReadToolchainsState: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.ToolchainsState)),
 		Work:                WorkDir,
 		Run:                 forgekey.ExecRunnerClean(0),
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/manifest_test.go
index 8b9ff5ec..39860aa0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/manifest_test.go
@@ -94,9 +94,13 @@ func TestManifestKeepsItsStatesClaimsItsBuildSeatAndDeclaresItsHealthTool(t *tes
 	states := []string{}
 	for _, s := range m.State {
 		states = append(states, s.Name)
+		// A step's key is per step and dropped after its age, so the bucket cannot fill; a pause has no age.
+		if (s.Name == "steps") != (s.TTLSeconds > 0) {
+			t.Errorf("state %s has ttl-seconds %d: only steps has an age", s.Name, s.TTLSeconds)
+		}
 	}
 	slices.Sort(states)
-	if want := []string{"keys", "steps", "toolchains"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
+	if want := []string{"keys", "pauses", "steps", "toolchains"}; !slices.Equal(states, want) {
 		t.Errorf("state = %v, want %v", states, want)
 	}
 	if len(m.Claims) != 1 || m.Claims[0].Name != Seat || !slices.Equal(m.Claims[0].Serves, []string{"current", "pause", "resume"}) {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module.go b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module.go
index a464a88e..1517b159 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module.go
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ type Module struct {
 	Toolchains, Steps buildstep.Put
 	// ReadSteps and ReadToolchainsState read those two states back for the read tools (issue 1562).
 	ReadSteps, ReadToolchainsState StateRead
+	// Pauses is the Put of the pauses state, which keeps the node's pause key without an age; ReadPauses reads it back.
+	Pauses     buildstep.Put
+	ReadPauses StateRead
 	// Emit tells the bus an event (stdio.Emit); nil emits nothing. The guard emits toolchain.reported after each write of
 	// the toolchains key, so the indexer, which holds no timer, learns that the bucket exists (issue 1444).
 	Emit func(eventType string, body any) error
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod b/modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod
index e17288f0..80306322 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildnode
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum b/modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum
index 88f93b50..e6f92511 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373 h1:Bykd8L6nHGNsvpHk3hLMeOct75UwlboHxasqB4cGKvQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025164403-a8fbabbfc373/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8 h1:x4mvY7yiGTP5lnzxbiwyj1o24p05hAmzZP7xHg3XX2M=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025175617-518dae5ec9c8/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-node/module.json b/modules/mesh-build-node/module.json
index 25f858eb..993fb7a1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-node/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-node/module.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   "state": [
     "toolchains",
     "keys",
-    "steps"
+    {"name": "steps", "ttl-seconds": 172800}, "pauses"
   ],
   "claims": [
     {