diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
index 2e7b833c..306ae903 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
@@ -151,7 +151,9 @@ func TestAPendingAssignmentExpiresWhenItsBuildFails(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(pending) != 1 || pending[0].State != inventory.PendingExpired {
 		t.Fatalf("pending after a failed build: %+v", pending)
 	}
-	for _, want := range []string{"expired", "build b-modules/sensors of modules/sensors failed",
+	// Its words since R4g (whyNotBuilt): the build, when it was heard, and that it failed (issue 1938: kept from an older
+	// run until the inventory changed beneath it).
+	for _, want := range []string{"expired", "modules/sensors in novox/mesh-catalog; its last build, b-modules/sensors at", ", failed: go build",
 		"undefined: sensorsRead", "nothing was assigned", "build \"true\""} {
 		if !strings.Contains(pending[0].Note, want) {
 			t.Fatalf("the expiry does not say %q: %s", want, pending[0].Note)