diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/README.md b/modules/mesh-files/README.md
index b2e492154..812a4b183 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/README.md
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/README.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ an override the override and the owned paths it went through. The caller is the
 ## What it refuses
 
 - A place a secret is kept (`MESH_SECRET_PLACES`, and the known credential files in `refuse.go`) is refused by
-  name for `read`, `list` and `search`. Copying or moving such a place is allowed: nothing is printed.
+  name for `read` and `search`; `list` answers its entries, never content, marked `secret-place`. Copying or moving such a place is allowed: nothing is printed.
 - A copy or move to or from `<node>:/path` is refused: copying between nodes comes in step 2 (issue 903).
 - A write without a reason; a path that is not absolute; a mode that is not a mode.
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/files_test.go b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/files_test.go
index d21eee723..73e6b9068 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/files_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/files_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type fakeRoot struct {
 	calls []string
 	cat   map[string]string
 	out   map[string]string // the answer to a whole call, "bin arg arg"
+	fail  map[string]error  // the error of a whole call
 	err   error
 }
 
@@ -31,6 +32,9 @@ func (r *fakeRoot) Run(bin string, args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
 	r.mu.Lock()
 	defer r.mu.Unlock()
 	r.calls = append(r.calls, bin+" "+strings.Join(args, " "))
+	if e, ok := r.fail[bin+" "+strings.Join(args, " ")]; ok {
+		return nil, e
+	}
 	if o, ok := r.out[bin+" "+strings.Join(args, " ")]; ok {
 		return []byte(o), nil
 	}
@@ -699,11 +703,20 @@ func TestTheReadsFallBackToRoot(t *testing.T) {
 	if g.root.called("/usr/bin/cat -- " + locked + "/.ssh/id_rsa") {
 		t.Error("root read a credential file")
 	}
-	// a secret place is refused by name, and root is never asked
-	g.root.calls = nil
-	if _, err := g.List(g.path("home/.ssh")); err == nil {
-		t.Error("a secret place was listed")
+	// a secret place is listed, as root lists it, its entries marked and never their content (ADR 0394 §7); a path
+	// that is not there under a directory the account may not enter is said missing (design 39 parts §15)
+	secretDir := locked + "/.ssh"
+	g.root.out["/usr/bin/find -H "+secretDir+" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -printf %y\t%U\t%G\t%m\t%s\t%l\t%f\x00"] =
+		"f\t1000\t1000\t600\t9\t\tid_rsa\x00"
+	if ls, err := g.List(secretDir); err != nil || ls.Secret == "" || len(ls.Entries) != 1 || ls.Entries[0].Name != "id_rsa" {
+		t.Errorf("a secret place was not listed through root: %+v %v", ls, err)
 	}
+	g.root.fail = map[string]error{"/usr/bin/stat -c " + statFormat + " -- " + in + "/gone": errors.New(
+		"sudo -n /usr/bin/stat: stat: cannot statx '" + in + "/gone': No such file or directory")}
+	if st, err := g.Stat([]string{in + "/gone"}, false); err != nil || !strings.Contains(st.Paths[0].Stopped, "does not exist") {
+		t.Errorf("a missing path under a closed directory: %+v %v", st, err)
+	}
+	g.root.calls = nil
 	if _, err := g.Read(locked+"/.ssh/id_rsa", ReadAsk{}); err == nil || len(g.root.calls) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("a credential file was read: %v %v", err, g.root.calls)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/main.go b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/main.go
index c6b7af439..68c6eb232 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/main.go
@@ -171,7 +171,9 @@ func object(props map[string]any, required ...string) map[string]any {
 
 // The descriptions of the reads are the controller's (internal/catalogue/files.go): the reads' own, with
 // where they are read as restated for the operator's account.
-const asAccount = "as the node's operator account, through sudo -n where its rights do not reach; a place a " +
+const readsAs = "as the node's operator account, through sudo -n where its rights do not reach"
+
+const asAccount = readsAs + "; a place a " +
 	"secret is kept, or a known credential file, is refused by name"
 
 func boolArg(a map[string]any, k string) bool { return arg(a, k) == "true" }
@@ -266,7 +268,7 @@ func tools(f *Files) []stdio.Tool {
 func readTools(r Reader) []stdio.Tool {
 	ts := rawReadTools(r)
 	for i := range ts {
-		if !strings.Contains(ts[i].Description, asAccount) {
+		if !strings.Contains(ts[i].Description, readsAs) {
 			ts[i].Description += " Read " + asAccount + "."
 		}
 	}
@@ -286,8 +288,9 @@ func rawReadTools(r Reader) []stdio.Tool {
 			object(map[string]any{"path": str("an absolute path")}, "path"),
 			func(a map[string]any) (any, error) { return r.Readlink(arg(a, "path")) }),
 		verb("list", "Every entry of one directory with its type, owner, group, mode, size and, for a link, its "+
-			"target. At most 2000 entries; a longer directory is cut and says so. A place a secret is kept is "+
-			"refused by name.",
+			"target. At most 2000 entries; a longer directory is cut and says so. A place a secret is kept, at any depth "+
+			"beneath it, is listed too and marked secret-place: its entries, never their content; what reaches a "+
+			"process's memory or files (/proc/<pid>/environ, mem, fd, map_files, root, cwd) is refused by name. Read "+readsAs+".",
 			object(map[string]any{"path": str("an absolute path to a directory")}, "path"),
 			func(a map[string]any) (any, error) { return r.List(arg(a, "path")) }),
 		verb("read", "One text file, or a part of it by line: at most 256 KiB in one answer (64 KiB unless more "+
diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads.go b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads.go
index db438d4db..fc9c67f3e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads.go
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ var errRefusedByName = errors.New("refused by name")
 // (/proc/self/fd) is judged by name like any path asked. A deleted file, or one the kernel names no path for, is
 // refused.
 func (r Reader) openJudged(path string, nofollow, dir bool) (*os.File, fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	return r.openJudgedIn(path, nofollow, dir, false)
+}
+
+// openJudgedIn is openJudged where a list may open a place a secret is kept (listing it reads no content;
+// novox/hq ADR 0394 §7): what reaches a process's memory or files stays refused.
+func (r Reader) openJudgedIn(path string, nofollow, dir, listing bool) (*os.File, fs.FileInfo, error) {
 	stat := os.Stat
 	if nofollow {
 		stat = os.Lstat
@@ -136,9 +142,9 @@ func (r Reader) openJudged(path string, nofollow, dir bool) (*os.File, fs.FileIn
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is refused: the kernel names no path for what was opened, so it cannot be "+
 			"judged by name (novox/hq ADR 0394 §5)", path)
 	}
-	if why := r.Refused(real); why != "" {
+	if why := r.Refused(real); why != "" && !(listing && !reachesProcess(real)) {
 		f.Close()
-		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is %s, which is refused by name: %s (novox/hq ADR 0394 §5): %w", path, real, why, errRefusedByName)
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is %s, which is refused by name: %s (novox/hq ADR 0394 §7): %w", path, real, why, errRefusedByName)
 	}
 	return f, info, nil
 }
@@ -308,6 +314,10 @@ var rootTypes = map[string]string{"regular file": "file", "regular empty file":
 func (r Reader) componentAsRoot(p string, names accounts, mounts map[string]Mount) (Component, bool) {
 	out, err := r.Root.Run("/usr/bin/stat", "-c", statFormat, "--", p)
 	f := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(out)), "|")
+	if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "No such file or directory") {
+		// root reached the place and it is not there: said as missing, not as refused by the file modes.
+		return Component{Path: p, Unreachd: why(fs.ErrNotExist)}, true
+	}
 	if err != nil || len(f) != 6 {
 		return Component{}, false
 	}
@@ -478,6 +488,9 @@ type ListAnswer struct {
 	Count    int        `json:"count"`
 	Cut      string     `json:"cut,omitempty"`
 	Withheld []Withheld `json:"withheld,omitempty"`
+	// Secret says why a read under the place is refused, when the directory is a place a secret is kept: its
+	// entries are answered, never their content (novox/hq ADR 0394 §7).
+	Secret string `json:"secret-place,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // refusedRead is a refusal by name, before any read: the path asked and where it leads are both judged, so a
@@ -494,17 +507,45 @@ func (r Reader) refusedRead(path string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// listedPlace judges a directory asked to be listed, and where it leads: a place a secret is kept is listed
+// (its entries, never content) and said so; what reaches a process's memory or files is refused by name
+// (novox/hq ADR 0394 §7).
+func (r Reader) listedPlace(path string) (string, error) {
+	var secret string
+	judge := func(p, how string) error {
+		why := r.Refused(p)
+		switch {
+		case why == "":
+		case reachesProcess(p):
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s%s is refused by name: %s (novox/hq ADR 0394 §7)", path, how, why)
+		case secret == "":
+			secret = why
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := judge(path, ""); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if leads, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(path); err == nil && leads != path {
+		if err := judge(leads, " leads to "+leads+", which"); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+	return secret, nil
+}
+
 func (r Reader) List(raw string) (ListAnswer, error) {
 	path, err := absolute(raw)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ListAnswer{}, err
 	}
-	if err := r.refusedRead(path); err != nil {
+	secret, err := r.listedPlace(path)
+	if err != nil {
 		return ListAnswer{}, err
 	}
 	names := r.names()
 	var all []Entry
-	dir, _, err := r.openJudged(path, false, true)
+	dir, _, err := r.openJudgedIn(path, false, true, true)
 	switch {
 	case err != nil && r.Root != nil && errors.Is(err, fs.ErrPermission):
 		if all, err = r.listAsRoot(path, names); err != nil {
@@ -540,15 +581,15 @@ func (r Reader) List(raw string) (ListAnswer, error) {
 			}
 			all = append(all, en)
 		}
-		return r.finishList(path, all, len(entries)), nil
+		return r.finishList(path, all, len(entries), secret), nil
 	}
-	return r.finishList(path, all, len(all)), nil
+	return r.finishList(path, all, len(all), secret), nil
 }
 
 // finishList bounds a list and holds each link's target to the content rule. total is how many entries the
 // directory holds.
-func (r Reader) finishList(path string, all []Entry, total int) ListAnswer {
-	a := ListAnswer{Path: path, Count: total, Entries: []Entry{}}
+func (r Reader) finishList(path string, all []Entry, total int, secret string) ListAnswer {
+	a := ListAnswer{Path: path, Count: total, Entries: []Entry{}, Secret: secret}
 	if total > MaxEntries {
 		a.Cut = fmt.Sprintf("cut at %d of %d entries (the bound of one list), in name order", MaxEntries, total)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads_test.go b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads_test.go
index 162e5f720..bb94ef3d4 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/reads_test.go
@@ -85,8 +85,33 @@ func TestSecretPlacesAreRefusedByNameBeforeAnyRead(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%s was read: %v", p, err)
 		}
 	}
-	if _, err := r.List(vault); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "refused by name") {
-		t.Errorf("the vault's directory was listed: %v", err)
+	// a list of a place a secret is kept answers its entries, never content, marked (ADR 0394 §7)
+	if a, err := r.List(vault); err != nil || a.Secret == "" || a.Count != 1 || a.Entries[0].Name != "ledger" {
+		t.Errorf("the vault's directory was not listed as a secret place: %+v %v", a, err)
+	}
+	if a, err := r.List(filepath.Join(vault, "ledger")); err != nil || a.Secret == "" || a.Count != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("beneath the vault's directory: %+v %v", a, err)
+	}
+	if a, err := r.List(filepath.Join(dir, "home/ops")); err != nil || a.Secret != "" {
+		t.Errorf("a plain directory is marked: %+v %v", a, err)
+	}
+	// a link in a secret place: the entry is answered, its target held to the content rule (ADR 0394 §8)
+	if err := os.Symlink(aToken, filepath.Join(vault, "ledger/tokenlink")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if a, err := r.List(filepath.Join(vault, "ledger")); err != nil || a.Secret == "" || len(a.Withheld) != 1 ||
+		a.Withheld[0].At != "a link's target" || strings.Contains(a.Entries[0].Link+a.Entries[1].Link, aToken) {
+		t.Errorf("a secret-shaped target in a secret place: %+v %v", a, err)
+	}
+	// the served text of list says it lists a secret place, and no longer that it refuses one
+	for _, tl := range readTools(r) {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(tl.Name, ".list") && (strings.Contains(tl.Description, "known credential file, is refused") ||
+			!strings.HasSuffix(tl.Description, "where its rights do not reach.")) {
+			t.Errorf("the list text: %s", tl.Description)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := r.List("/proc/self/fd"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "refused by name") {
+		t.Errorf("a process's open files were listed: %v", err)
 	}
 	link := filepath.Join(dir, "tmp/innocent")
 	write(t, filepath.Join(dir, "tmp/x"), "")
diff --git a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/refuse.go b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/refuse.go
index df2d55865..afee44679 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/refuse.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-files/cmd/mesh-files/refuse.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/outward"
 )
 
-// What is refused by name, before any read (novox/hq ADR 0394 §5), and what an answer withholds (§4).
+// What is refused by name, before any read (novox/hq ADR 0394 §7), and what an answer withholds (§4).
 //
 // **Two lists of places.** The places the mesh knows a secret is kept on this node — every module's own-secret
 // directory, every credential file and grant directory, the vault's directories — come from the controller,
@@ -103,6 +103,12 @@ func (r Refuser) Refused(path string) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+// reachesProcess says whether a path is an entry of a process that reaches its memory, environment or files.
+func reachesProcess(path string) bool {
+	parts := strings.Split(strings.TrimPrefix(filepath.Clean(path), "/"), "/")
+	return len(parts) >= 3 && parts[0] == "proc" && procPrivate[parts[2]]
+}
+
 func within(path, place string) bool {
 	return path == place || strings.HasPrefix(path, strings.TrimSuffix(place, "/")+"/")
 }