diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
index 5273127b..27b201d1 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/seats_test.go
@@ -93,3 +93,27 @@ func TestTheSeatsListingShowsEachSeatsPaths(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// 1718/AC2: a manifest claiming node-files that serves upload and download passes the controller's module
+// check, judged by the mesh-sdk it vendors; a verb outside the contract is still refused.
+func TestAFilesHolderServingUploadAndDownloadCanHoldTheSeat(t *testing.T) {
+	seat, ok := catalogue.SeatNamed(catalogue.FilesSeat)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("node-files is not a seat")
+	}
+	serves := []string{"upload", "download"}
+	for _, v := range seat.Serves {
+		if v.Name != "upload" && v.Name != "download" {
+			serves = append(serves, v.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	holder := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "mesh-files", Version: "1", Claims: []catalogue.Claim{{
+		Name: catalogue.FilesSeat, Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode, Serves: serves}}}
+	if err := catalogue.CanHold(holder, seat); err != nil { // 1718/AC2
+		t.Fatalf("a holder serving upload and download is refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	holder.Claims[0].Serves = append(append([]string{}, serves...), "teleport")
+	if err := catalogue.CanHold(holder, seat); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not promise") {
+		t.Fatalf("a verb outside the contract must be refused with 'does not promise': %v", err)
+	}
+}