diff --git a/cmd/mesh-control/push.go b/cmd/mesh-control/push.go
index 8eb13f2..1def023 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-control/push.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-control/push.go
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ func pushCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 	// eventually watches.
 	behind := set.Bool("behind", false,
 		"only machines whose last declaration was refused or partly failed")
+	// For a named node, wait until it reports applying exactly what it was sent, so `push <node>`
+	// means "this node is now what it was told" — a command right after does not race the apply
+	// (novox/hq ADR 0010). 0 waits for nothing, which is the old fire-and-forget.
+	wait := set.Duration("wait", 0,
+		"for a named node, how long to wait for it to report applying what it was sent (0: do not wait)")
 	positionals, err := parseAround(set, args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -292,6 +297,7 @@ func pushCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 		return declarationWith(ctx, open, node, plan, settings, gens, Allocating)
 	})
 
+	sentDigest := map[string]string{}
 	for _, s := range sending {
 		body, err := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"declaration": 1, "resources": s.resources})
 		if err != nil {
@@ -306,15 +312,62 @@ func pushCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := inv.RecordSent(ctx, record.ID, digestOf(body)); err != nil {
+		digest := digestOf(body)
+		if err := inv.RecordSent(ctx, record.ID, digest); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		sentDigest[s.node] = digest
 		fmt.Printf("sent %s %d resource(s)\n", s.node, len(s.resources))
 	}
 	fmt.Printf("\n%d node(s) told\n", len(sending))
+
+	// A named node is a request to make THAT node current now, so it waits for the node to say it
+	// applied exactly this. A whole-mesh or --behind push does not wait: it is a sweep, and blocking
+	// on the slowest machine would hold back the report on all the others.
+	if *wait > 0 && len(args) == 1 {
+		if err := waitForApplied(ctx, inv, args[0], sentDigest[args[0]], *wait); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return couldNotBeResolved(refusals, len(sending))
 }
 
+// waitForApplied blocks until the node reports it applied exactly the declaration just sent, or the
+// wait runs out. A report of failure or refusal for that same declaration ends the wait at once —
+// there is nothing to wait for, and the reason is the node's own.
+func waitForApplied(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, node, digest string, wait time.Duration) error {
+	if digest == "" {
+		return nil // nothing was sent to this node
+	}
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(wait)
+	for {
+		doing, said, err := inv.DoingOf(ctx, node)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if said && doing.Declared == digest {
+			switch doing.Outcome {
+			case inventory.OutcomeApplied:
+				fmt.Printf("%s applied it\n", node)
+				return nil
+			case inventory.OutcomeFailed:
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s applied what it was sent but %d resource(s) failed", node, len(doing.Failed))
+			case inventory.OutcomeRefused:
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s refused what it was sent: %s", node, doing.Refused)
+			}
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s did not report applying what it was sent within %s "+
+				"(it may still be converging; check `status`)", node, wait)
+		}
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return ctx.Err()
+		case <-time.After(500 * time.Millisecond):
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // readyNode is one machine and the declaration it would be sent.
 type readyNode struct {
 	node      string