diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/first_build_ask_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/first_build_ask_integration_test.go
index 7b6eb93c..b8ee5ce1 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/first_build_ask_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/first_build_ask_integration_test.go
@@ -11,15 +11,18 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asks"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/identity"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
 )
 
 // aForgeAndABuildSeat gives a test what a real ask of a build needs: the forge holding the git seat, assigned to anchor, so
-// the clone URL composes; the build seat's queue on a real bus; and the environment of the serving controller, which is
+// the clone URL composes; the identity store; the build seat's queue on a real bus; and the environment of the serving controller, which is
 // never the controller's terminal (a verb's, in effect: startedAtTheTerminal is false).
 func aForgeAndABuildSeat(t *testing.T, open *stores) *broker.JetStream {
 	t.Helper()
 	js, _ := aBuildQueue(t)
+	// The ask signs what it sends with the controller's identity, as the serving controller does.
+	identity.ForTest(t)
 	forge, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(`{"module":"gitea","version":"1",
 	  "claims":[{"name":"git","scope":"mesh"}],"provides":[{"name":"git","scope":"mesh"}],
 	  "serves":{"git":{"scheme":"http","port":3000}}}`))
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/not_asked_id_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/not_asked_id_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..557589f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/not_asked_id_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/chain"
+)
+
+// 1146: a merge's ask that failed is kept under an id the bus takes as a key, for a module at the repository's root
+// (".") as for one in a folder.
+func TestTheIdOfABuildNotAskedIsAKeyTheBusTakes(t *testing.T) {
+	for dir, want := range map[string]string{
+		".":                          "not-asked-0177ea7a",
+		"modules/mesh-delivery-view": "not-asked-0177ea7a-modules-mesh-delivery-view",
+	} {
+		id := notAskedID("0177ea7a00000000", dir)
+		if id != want {
+			t.Errorf("notAskedID(%q) = %q, want %q", dir, id, want)
+		}
+		if !chain.ValidKey("req." + id) {
+			t.Errorf("notAskedID(%q) = %q: the bus takes no key req.%s", dir, id, id)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
index 95be4d23..fc8cf122 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ func askBuilds(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m link.SourceMoved
 		request := inventory.BuildRequest{ID: id, Repository: source.Repository, Seat: source.Seat, Path: path,
 			Ref: m.Base, Commit: m.Commit, For: "merge"}
 		if err != nil {
-			request.ID = fmt.Sprintf("not-asked-%s-%s", short(m.Commit), strings.ReplaceAll(dir, "/", "-"))
+			request.ID = notAskedID(m.Commit, dir)
 			request.NotAsked = err.Error()
 			recordBuildRequest(ctx, inv, request)
 			fmt.Printf("  %s is a new module in %s/%s and could not be built: %v — a hand `build` of it "+
@@ -439,6 +439,15 @@ func askBuilds(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m link.SourceMoved
 	return asked
 }
 
+// notAskedID is the id a merge's build that could not be asked is kept under: a key the bus takes, so a module at the
+// repository's root (".") is kept as one in a folder is.
+func notAskedID(commit, dir string) string {
+	if dir == "." || dir == "" {
+		return "not-asked-" + short(commit)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("not-asked-%s-%s", short(commit), strings.ReplaceAll(strings.Trim(dir, "/"), "/", "-"))
+}
+
 // actingOnMerges keeps one merge acted on at a time (novox/hq issue 266).
 var actingOnMerges sync.Mutex