diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/given.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/given.go
index 1c89e174..5f240b57 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/given.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/given.go
@@ -53,12 +53,61 @@ func startedOn(h sdkdelivery.Have, written time.Time) time.Time {
 
 const givenWhy = "a value given by hand lives only until its module's first good start under the mesh (novox/hq ADR 0228)"
 
-// replaceGiven replaces what a module's good start makes due, composes the machines, and says so.
+// replaceGiven replaces what a module's good start makes due, composes the machines, and says so. One at a time for a
+// node: a call that finds one running leaves what it was asked for as a mark, and the one running takes it once it is
+// done, so a start heard meanwhile is never lost (issue 1945, the kind of the dropped wake).
 func replaceGiven(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, started map[string]time.Time) {
 	if _, busy := replacing.LoadOrStore(node, true); busy {
+		markGivenAgain(node, started)
 		return
 	}
-	defer replacing.Delete(node)
+	for {
+		replaceGivenOnce(ctx, open, node, started)
+		replacing.Delete(node)
+		// Read after letting go: a call meanwhile only marked the node.
+		pending := takeGivenMark(node)
+		if pending == nil || ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		if _, busy := replacing.LoadOrStore(node, true); busy {
+			markGivenAgain(node, pending) // the one running now takes it
+			return
+		}
+		started = pending
+	}
+}
+
+// givenAgain is, by node, the starts asked for while a replacement ran there, merged.
+var givenAgain = struct {
+	sync.Mutex
+	by map[string]map[string]time.Time
+}{by: map[string]map[string]time.Time{}}
+
+func markGivenAgain(node string, started map[string]time.Time) {
+	givenAgain.Lock()
+	defer givenAgain.Unlock()
+	m := givenAgain.by[node]
+	if m == nil {
+		m = map[string]time.Time{}
+		givenAgain.by[node] = m
+	}
+	for module, at := range started {
+		if at.After(m[module]) {
+			m[module] = at
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func takeGivenMark(node string) map[string]time.Time {
+	givenAgain.Lock()
+	defer givenAgain.Unlock()
+	m := givenAgain.by[node]
+	delete(givenAgain.by, node)
+	return m
+}
+
+// replaceGivenOnce is one replacement on a node; a variable so a test can stand in for it.
+var replaceGivenOnce = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, started map[string]time.Time) {
 	replaced, err := open.inventory.ReplaceGivenAfterStart(ctx, node, started)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("a value given by hand on %s could not be replaced after its module started: %v", node, err)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/given_again_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/given_again_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6d16679
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/given_again_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// A start heard while a replacement of given values runs on the node is not lost: it is marked, and the replacement
+// running takes it once it is done (issue 1945, the kind of the dropped wake: replaceGiven returned at once when busy).
+func TestAStartHeardDuringAReplacementIsTaken(t *testing.T) {
+	was := replaceGivenOnce
+	t.Cleanup(func() { replaceGivenOnce = was })
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	var asked []map[string]time.Time
+	at := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 13, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	replaceGivenOnce = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, started map[string]time.Time) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		asked = append(asked, started)
+		first := len(asked) == 1
+		mu.Unlock()
+		if first {
+			// Another module starts on the node while this one is being replaced.
+			replaceGiven(ctx, open, node, map[string]time.Time{"redis": at})
+		}
+	}
+	replaceGiven(context.Background(), nil, "ace", map[string]time.Time{"postgres": at})
+	mu.Lock()
+	defer mu.Unlock()
+	if len(asked) != 2 || !asked[1]["redis"].Equal(at) {
+		t.Fatalf("asked %v: the start heard during the replacement was lost", asked)
+	}
+}