diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_integration_test.go
index ee881d98..d3714080 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_integration_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/conditions"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/overlay"
 )
 
@@ -146,8 +147,18 @@ func TestAMachineAwaitsAPushSinceItsOldestAssignmentSinceTheLastSend(t *testing.
 func TestALastSendIsReadFromTheSendAndTheReport(t *testing.T) {
 	open := aMesh(t)
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	register(t, open, aKeeper())
-	pushedBy(t, open, "laptop")
+	// What a machine was sent is read from the commits its assignments name (issue 1109): a module is carried by a send only
+	// when it was built from a commit, and a hand send on a machine with nothing assigned leaves no key to mark unknown.
+	if err := open.inventory.RegisterModule(ctx, aKeeper(), inventory.Source{BuiltFrom: "c-keeper"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	record, err := open.inventory.NodeByName(ctx, "laptop")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := open.inventory.RecordSent(ctx, record.ID, "carried", map[string]string{overlay.Name: "c-overlay"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	if _, err := assign(ctx, open, "laptop", "keeper"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_test.go
index 0ec32245..58efd557 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/awaiting_push_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,21 @@ func pushedBy(t *testing.T, open *stores, node string) string {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	digest := digestOf(body)
-	if err := open.inventory.RecordSent(ctx, record.ID, digest, declared.Builds); err != nil {
+	// A push records the build of each module it carries (plan.go, Allocating); a module is carried by a send only when it was
+	// built from a commit, for what a machine was sent is read from the commits its assignments name (issue 1109).
+	builds := declared.Builds
+	if builds == nil {
+		current, err := open.inventory.CurrentBuilds(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		names := make([]string, 0, len(plan.Modules))
+		for _, m := range plan.Modules {
+			names = append(names, m.Module)
+		}
+		builds = carriedBuilds(names, nil, current, nil)
+	}
+	if err := open.inventory.RecordSent(ctx, record.ID, digest, builds); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	return digest
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/data_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/data_integration_test.go
index c1142df8..4d8a9853 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/data_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/data_integration_test.go
@@ -56,13 +56,19 @@ func TestNatsUnassigningIrreplaceableDataRetiresItAndAnEmptyReplacementIsUrgent(
 	if _, err := inv.SeedSeats(ctx, catalogue.DefaultSeats()); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	register(t, open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "keeper", Version: "1",
-		Claims: []catalogue.Claim{{Name: catalogue.BackupSeat, Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Serves: []string{"backed-up", "now", "restore"}}}})
+	// Built from a commit, so that a send carries them: a holder is asked only of what the machine was sent (issue 1109).
+	built := inventory.Source{BuiltFrom: "c1"}
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "keeper", Version: "1",
+		Claims: []catalogue.Claim{{Name: catalogue.BackupSeat, Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Serves: []string{"backed-up", "now", "restore"}}}}, built); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	house, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(houseManifest))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	register(t, open, house)
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, house, built); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	if _, err := assign(ctx, open, "laptop", "house"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("irreplaceable data was assigned to a machine with nothing to back it up")
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate.go
index ec61888b..854f39ef 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate.go
@@ -1120,6 +1120,9 @@ func throwawayStores(ctx context.Context, admin string) (*stores, func(), error)
 		drop()
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
+	// The chain lives on the bus, and the gate has none: this mesh is raised for a moment, with a chain of its own in memory
+	// that no other reads (issue 1121).
+	open.inventory.UseThrowawayChain()
 	for _, m := range provided {
 		if err := open.inventory.Provide(ctx, m); err != nil {
 			open.Close()
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_on_the_bus_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_on_the_bus_test.go
index df3825e2..3cfc5780 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_on_the_bus_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_on_the_bus_test.go
@@ -50,9 +50,17 @@ func theMergePathOn(t *testing.T, open *stores) func(link.SourceMoved) {
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		stop()
 		<-done
+		lookingAtBatches.Wait()
 		setWindowClock(nil)
 		windowLook.Store(nil)
 	})
+	// The forge's merges are taken from a consumer made when the server starts serving: a merge published before it exists
+	// is not delivered to it. With the chain read from the bus the set-up above is quick enough to lose that race, so the
+	// publisher waits for the consumer.
+	becomes(t, 10*time.Second, "the merges' consumer being made", func() bool {
+		_, err := js.Context().ConsumerInfo("EVENTS", broker.MergesConsumerName)
+		return err == nil
+	})
 	return func(m link.SourceMoved) {
 		t.Helper()
 		body, err := json.Marshal(m)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_window_bus.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_window_bus.go
index 5b4cb0e3..bd721841 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_window_bus.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/merge_window_bus.go
@@ -145,9 +145,15 @@ func (w *busWindow) Forget(ctx context.Context, batch string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// lookingAtBatches counts the looks under way, so a test that ends the window's clock can wait for the last of them before the
+// next test replaces what they read.
+var lookingAtBatches sync.WaitGroup
+
 // lookAtBatches is the look an expired window asks for: the plans held, as a merge heard holds them, and the batches
 // whose window closed cut (cutBatchesHeld). Waiting for the plans rather than giving up: an expiry is heard once.
 func lookAtBatches(ctx context.Context, open *stores) {
+	lookingAtBatches.Add(1)
+	defer lookingAtBatches.Done()
 	release, err := open.inventory.HoldPlans(ctx, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("batches: a window closed and the plans could not be held for the look: %v\n", err)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
index 5bbf1287..ba6a82fe 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/pending_integration_test.go
@@ -542,23 +542,26 @@ func TestAPendingAssignmentNeverWaitsSilently(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("a module registered meanwhile: %+v", p)
 	}
 
-	// Ended rows are deleted after KeptFor (review point 7); open ones never, nor one whose condition is
-	// still open (second review, bug B).
+	// Ended waits are not deleted, for the chain removes no key (ADR 0408 section 4): after KeptFor they are no longer listed, open
+	// ones never are left out, nor one whose condition is still open (second review, bug B).
 	if _, err := inv.RecordPending(ctx, inventory.PendingAssignment{Node: "anchor", Module: "lost", Build: "build-lost"}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	said := settlePending(ctx, open, time.Now().Add(inventory.KeptFor+time.Hour))
-	rows, err := inv.Pending(ctx, time.Unix(0, 0))
+	later := time.Now().Add(inventory.KeptFor + time.Hour)
+	settlePending(ctx, open, later)
+	rows, err := inv.Pending(ctx, later.Add(-inventory.KeptFor))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	for _, r := range rows {
 		if !r.Open() && (r.Raised == nil || r.Cleared != nil) {
-			t.Fatalf("an ended pending assignment with no open condition outlived %s: %+v (%v)", inventory.KeptFor, r, said)
+			t.Fatalf("an ended pending assignment with no open condition is listed past %s: %+v", inventory.KeptFor, r)
 		}
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(strings.Join(said, "\n"), "deleted 1 pending assignment(s)") {
-		t.Fatalf("the applied row was not deleted: %v", said)
+	for _, r := range rows {
+		if r.Module == "heard" {
+			t.Fatalf("an applied wait is listed past %s: %+v", inventory.KeptFor, r)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
index f7939794..bd7604c7 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
@@ -1589,7 +1589,9 @@ func grantsOnlyIn(ctx context.Context, open *stores, holder string, plan catalog
 	var other []string
 	listID := ""
 	for _, m := range plan.Modules {
-		if _, was := sent[m.Module]; !was {
+		// A module no build is recorded for is carried with no commit and names none on its key (issue 1109), so it is "sent"
+		// only by the comparison of the summaries below; a module with a commit that was never sent is a new assignment.
+		if _, was := sent[m.Module]; !was && declared.Builds[m.Module] != "" {
 			other = append(other, m.Module+" newly assigned")
 		}
 		if m.BusUsers != "" && m.ClaimsSeat(catalogue.BrokerSeat) {
diff --git a/internal/inventory/chain.go b/internal/inventory/chain.go
index a6e39ab3..1a0fbd7e 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/chain.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/chain.go
@@ -71,6 +71,14 @@ func (i *Inventory) UseChain(c *chain.Chain) {
 	}
 }
 
+// UseThrowawayChain gives the inventory a chain in memory that is its own, laid out already: for a mesh raised for a moment
+// beside the real one, as the merge gate raises the facts snapshot's mesh in a throwaway store (issue 1121). Nothing of it
+// reaches the bus.
+func (i *Inventory) UseThrowawayChain() {
+	i.UseChain(chain.InMemory(nil))
+	i.markLaidOut()
+}
+
 // attached is the chain this inventory has, nil when none.
 func (i *Inventory) attached() *chain.Chain {
 	i.state.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/internal/inventory/chain_pending_test.go b/internal/inventory/chain_pending_test.go
index e9841507..3d48ba19 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/chain_pending_test.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/chain_pending_test.go
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ func TestAPendingAssignmentIsAKeyOfTheAssignmentsBucket(t *testing.T) {
 	if known, _ := inv.PendingKnown(ctx, []string{p.ID, next.ID}); !known[p.ID] || !known[next.ID] {
 		t.Fatalf("known %v: the key holds the newer one and carries the unanswered earlier one", known)
 	}
-	if history, _ := inv.chain.Assignments.History(ctx, "anchor.sensors"); len(history) != 2 {
+	// The first wait, its settling and the new wait: three values, the earlier wait still in the history.
+	if history, _ := inv.chain.Assignments.History(ctx, "anchor.sensors"); len(history) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("the earlier wait is in the key's history: %d values", len(history))
 	}
 }