diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate_handing_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate_handing_test.go
index 242aa76f..a5840284 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate_handing_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate_handing_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"os"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
 	snapshot "github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/facts"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
 )
 
@@ -26,3 +29,57 @@ func TestIssue969TheGateGivesAMachineItsContractSoItTakesHandedFiles(t *testing.
 		t.Fatalf("a snapshot that carries no contract states nothing: %+v, %v", none, ok)
 	}
 }
+
+// Issue 969, through the store: a machine whose engine stated the handed contract is in the snapshot with it, the
+// gate raises it as taking handed files, and one whose statement is below it is raised as not taking them. Run in
+// the merge check with the other tests that need a store; the composition itself, handed here and refused there, is
+// the catalogue's TestAHandedModuleNamingARunTimeBoundKeyComposesOnlyWhereItIsHanded.
+func TestIssue969TheGateRaisesEachMachineAsItsEngineStatedItself(t *testing.T) {
+	open := aMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	said := time.Date(2026, 10, 16, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	for node, contract := range map[string]int{"anchor": link.HandedContract, "laptop": link.HandedContract - 1} {
+		if _, err := open.inventory.RecordHealth(ctx, inventory.NodeHealth{Node: node, Contract: contract,
+			SaidAt: said, HeardAt: said}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	f, err := gatherFacts(ctx, open, "2.11.17")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(f.Machines) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("the snapshot holds %d machines", len(f.Machines))
+	}
+	want := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, m := range f.Machines {
+		if m.Contract == 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: the snapshot carries no contract", m.Name)
+		}
+		want[m.Name] = m.Contract >= link.HandedContract
+	}
+	handing := 0
+	for _, hands := range want {
+		if hands {
+			handing++
+		}
+	}
+	if handing != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("one machine takes handed files in the snapshot, got %v", want)
+	}
+
+	raised, drop, err := throwawayStores(ctx, os.Getenv("MESH_TEST_POSTGRES"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer drop()
+	if _, err := raiseFromFacts(ctx, raised, f, map[string]catalogue.Manifest{}, map[string]inventory.Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for name, hands := range want {
+		got, err := engineTakesHanded(ctx, raised.inventory, name)
+		if err != nil || got != hands {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the gate raises it as taking handed files = %v (%v), the mesh says %v", name, got, err, hands)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/handed_bound_test.go b/internal/catalogue/handed_bound_test.go
index 6b7349ba..526f4d29 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/handed_bound_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/handed_bound_test.go
@@ -123,3 +123,37 @@ func TestAHandedModulesLocalCredentialsOfTheVaultAreNamedByLocalInItsPlan(t *tes
 		t.Fatalf("the plan names %v, want admin and internal-token", names)
 	}
 }
+
+// **Issue 969: a key its provider serves only at run time.** A moved module's file may name `${bound:…}` of a
+// provision whose provider tells it at run time (ssh-client's known_host of the forge). Where the machine takes
+// handed files the client fills it and the module composes; where it does not the controller must fill it from what
+// the provider serves statically, cannot, and refuses it with the very words an unmarked module is refused with
+// (ADR 0349 §17: the old way, byte for byte).
+func TestAHandedModuleNamingARunTimeBoundKeyComposesOnlyWhereItIsHanded(t *testing.T) {
+	text := "Host ${bound:postgres-database:at}\n  KnownHost ${bound:postgres-database:known_host}\n"
+	moved := strings.Replace(botMoved(), `"own-secrets":{"token":"${dir:state}/token"}`,
+		`"requires":["postgres-database"],"own-secrets":{"token":"${dir:state}/token"}`, 1)
+	unmoved := strings.Replace(moved, `"moved":true,`, ``, 1)
+	if unmoved == moved {
+		t.Fatal("the twin is still marked moved")
+	}
+
+	c, got := composeWith(t, withDatabase(t, moved, text, true), handingTo("store:5000"))
+	if strings.Contains(got, "known_host") || len(c.Filled) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("handed, the module is filled by the client and the controller names nothing: %v %s", c.Filled, got)
+	}
+
+	for name, with := range map[string]Rendering{
+		"an engine that does not take a filled file alone": {Provisioner: "mesh-provisioner-client", ArtifactStore: "store:5000"},
+		"no provisioner client on the machine":             {Hands: true, ArtifactStore: "store:5000"},
+	} {
+		_, err := withDatabase(t, moved, text, true).Compose(sealedForBot(with))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `asks its postgres-database binding for "known_host"`) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: the key is not refused: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		_, before := withDatabase(t, unmoved, text, false).Compose(sealedForBot(with))
+		if before == nil || before.Error() != err.Error() {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: refused otherwise than the unmarked module: %v / %v", name, err, before)
+		}
+	}
+}