diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/chain.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/chain.go
index 9af1cc87..0f648a9d 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/chain.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/chain.go
@@ -43,8 +43,14 @@ func attachTheChain(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, server *link.
 	}
 	inv.UseChain(c)
 	inv.RequireLayout()
-	// And the builds laid out under their modules, once, before they are read (issue 1121).
-	go layBuildsOutSoon(ctx, inv)
+	// And the builds laid out under their modules, once, before they are read (issue 1121) — **before this returns**, so
+	// nothing the start goes on to read meets a chain not laid out yet: on 2026-10-18 the layout ran beside the start, a
+	// read of the start was refused, and the controller exited and was started again every five seconds. The layout of
+	// keys laid out before skips them, so this takes seconds; one that fails is tried again beside the serving, loudly.
+	if err := inv.LayBuildsOut(ctx, func(format string, args ...any) { fmt.Printf("chain: "+format+"\n", args...) }); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("chain: the builds are not laid out under their modules yet, and none is read until they are: %v\n", err)
+		go layBuildsOutSoon(ctx, inv)
+	}
 	// And the requests the move of delivery 1 found never handed over, asked again once (askAgain), once it is serving.
 	go askAgainSoon(ctx, inv)
 	// And what delivery 1 recorded of what each machine was sent, copied onto the keys of the assignments (CopySentBuilds).