diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
index 3215b1aa..8de675b5 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
@@ -399,6 +399,8 @@ func blockedElsewhere(ctx context.Context, open *stores, except string) string {
 // purpose, never by re-assigning); and when the bus cannot be reached from here, the line names the
 // verb and the push that would refuse the module until it is run — never a silent placeholder (novox/hq issue 203).
 func issueOnAssign(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node, module string) string {
+	// Mint only what no row names: the assignments' watch hears the same write and may issue at once (ADR 0543).
+	ctx = onlyIfAbsent(ctx)
 	inv := open.inventory
 	shelf, err := inv.Catalogue(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts.go
index 531900f3..52f80515 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts.go
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -28,15 +30,20 @@ import (
 // (a new key, or one that was ended or pending), the lease holder issues the module's accounts on that node that are not
 // minted (idempotent: a minted account is never issued again, a rotation is on purpose), composes the node holding the
 // bus so its user list carries them, and writes the grants. A rewrite of an assignment that already stood (the
-// provisioner's plan kept in its value) does nothing. A starting controller looks at every standing assignment once:
-// it issues what is missing and, when it issued anything, composes the bus's node and writes the grants.
+// provisioner's plan kept in its value) does nothing. A starting controller looks at every standing assignment once,
+// from one reading of the catalogue: it issues what is missing, then composes the bus's node and writes the grants
+// once. The assign act issues too; both mint only an account no row names, in one statement, so exactly one of them
+// mints and seals it (mintBusUser, the review of issue 1945).
 
 // assignmentAccountSteps are what an assignment that comes to stand does, each a step a test may stand in for.
 type assignmentAccountSteps struct {
 	// holds says this controller holds the lease: only its holder issues.
 	holds func(ctx context.Context) bool
-	// issue issues the module's accounts on the node that are not minted; issued says it minted one, line what it did.
-	issue func(ctx context.Context, node, module string) (issued bool, line string, err error)
+	// catalogue reads the catalogue once, for every assignment a look issues for.
+	catalogue func(ctx context.Context) (map[string]catalogue.Manifest, error)
+	// issue issues the module's accounts on the node that are not minted, from the catalogue read; issued says it
+	// minted one, line what it did.
+	issue func(ctx context.Context, shelf map[string]catalogue.Manifest, node, module string) (issued bool, line string, err error)
 	// busHolder is the node holding the bus, "" for none.
 	busHolder func(ctx context.Context) (string, error)
 	// compose writes the nodes' compositions; grants writes the grants issued.
@@ -48,39 +55,89 @@ type assignmentAccountSteps struct {
 // bus's node is composed and the grants written even when every account was minted before (a module assigned again
 // keeps its account, and the bus's user list left it out while it was unassigned). It answers what it did, "" for
 // nothing.
-func (s assignmentAccountSteps) settle(ctx context.Context, node, module string, fresh bool) (string, error) {
-	if !s.holds(ctx) || module == controllerModule {
+func (s assignmentAccountSteps) settle(ctx context.Context, node, module string) (string, error) {
+	if module == controllerModule {
 		// The controller's own module is issued at the terminal alone: its `broker` secret is the credential it is
 		// using (rollout.go), and it is assigned and unassigned there only (refusedMovingTheController).
 		return "", nil
 	}
-	issued, line, err := s.issue(ctx, node, module)
+	if !s.holds(ctx) {
+		return "", errNotHolding
+	}
+	shelf, err := s.catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("the catalogue cannot be read: %w", err)
+	}
+	_, line, err := s.issue(ctx, shelf, node, module)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("its bus accounts on %s are not issued: %w", node, err)
 	}
-	if !issued && !fresh {
+	said, err := s.cover(ctx)
+	prefix := module + " on " + node + ": "
+	if line != "" {
+		prefix += line + "; "
+	}
+	return prefix + said, err
+}
+
+// look is the start's look: the accounts every standing assignment lacks, issued one after another from one reading of
+// the catalogue, then the bus's node composed and the grants written once, when it looked at any assignment, whatever
+// it issued (an assignment that came to stand while no controller heard it may have its accounts and still lack its
+// place in the bus's user list or its grant). It answers what it did.
+func (s assignmentAccountSteps) look(ctx context.Context, standing []chain.Assignment) (string, error) {
+	var looked []chain.Assignment
+	for _, a := range standing {
+		if a.Module != controllerModule {
+			looked = append(looked, a)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(looked) == 0 {
 		return "", nil
 	}
+	if !s.holds(ctx) {
+		return "", errNotHolding
+	}
+	shelf, err := s.catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("the catalogue cannot be read: %w", err)
+	}
+	var lines []string
+	for _, a := range looked {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return "", ctx.Err()
+		}
+		if _, line, err := s.issue(ctx, shelf, a.Node, a.Module); err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("%s's bus accounts on %s are not issued: %w", a.Module, a.Node, err)
+		} else if line != "" {
+			lines = append(lines, a.Module+" on "+a.Node+": "+line)
+		}
+	}
+	said, err := s.cover(ctx)
+	lines = append(lines, fmt.Sprintf("%d standing assignment(s) looked at; %s", len(looked), said))
+	return strings.Join(lines, "\n"), err
+}
+
+// errNotHolding is a controller that does not hold the lease: it issues nothing, and tries again until it holds it.
+var errNotHolding = errors.New("this controller does not hold the lease")
+
+// cover composes the node holding the bus and writes the grants, and says so.
+func (s assignmentAccountSteps) cover(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 	holder, err := s.busHolder(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		return line, fmt.Errorf("the node holding the bus cannot be read: %w", err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("the node holding the bus cannot be read: %w", err)
 	}
 	if holder != "" {
 		if err := s.compose(ctx, []string{holder}); err != nil {
-			return line, fmt.Errorf("the bus's user list on %s is not composed: %w", holder, err)
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("the bus's user list on %s is not composed: %w", holder, err)
 		}
 	}
 	if err := s.grants(ctx); err != nil {
-		return line, err
-	}
-	said := module + " on " + node + ": "
-	if line != "" {
-		said += line + "; "
+		return "", err
 	}
 	if holder != "" {
-		said += "the bus's user list composed on " + holder + ", "
+		return "the bus's user list composed on " + holder + ", the grants written", nil
 	}
-	return said + "its grant written", nil
+	return "the grants written", nil
 }
 
 // assignmentStands says a value of the assignments bucket holds an assignment that stands: made (a module only pulled in
@@ -130,11 +187,10 @@ func ownAccountOf(m catalogue.Manifest, node string) (string, bool) {
 // issueAssignmentAccounts issues module's accounts on node that are not minted: its own (issueOnTheNewBus) and its
 // processes' (issueMissingProcessAccounts). A module the catalogue does not hold, or one with nowhere to deliver an
 // account (mayIssue), has nothing to issue; an account minted before is kept.
-func issueAssignmentAccounts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, node, module string) (bool, string, error) {
-	shelf, err := inv.Catalogue(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, "", fmt.Errorf("the catalogue cannot be read: %w", err)
-	}
+func issueAssignmentAccounts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, shelf map[string]catalogue.Manifest,
+	node, module string) (bool, string, error) {
+	// Mint only what no row names: the assign act hears its own write and may issue at once (the review of issue 1945).
+	ctx = onlyIfAbsent(ctx)
 	m, known := shelf[module]
 	if !known || mayIssue(m) != nil {
 		return false, "", nil
@@ -169,11 +225,13 @@ func liveAssignmentAccountSteps(open *stores) assignmentAccountSteps {
 	inv := open.inventory
 	return assignmentAccountSteps{
 		holds: func(ctx context.Context) bool {
-			epoch, err := theLease.epoch(ctx)
-			return err == nil && epoch > 0
+			// The lease's gate, as every act's: a serving controller the bus does not grant the lease yet acts unleased.
+			_, err := theLease.epoch(ctx)
+			return err == nil
 		},
-		issue: func(ctx context.Context, node, module string) (bool, string, error) {
-			return issueAssignmentAccounts(ctx, inv, node, module)
+		catalogue: func(ctx context.Context) (map[string]catalogue.Manifest, error) { return inv.Catalogue(ctx) },
+		issue: func(ctx context.Context, shelf map[string]catalogue.Manifest, node, module string) (bool, string, error) {
+			return issueAssignmentAccounts(ctx, inv, shelf, node, module)
 		},
 		busHolder: func(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 			holders, err := seatHolders(ctx, inv)
@@ -194,21 +252,23 @@ func liveAssignmentAccountSteps(open *stores) assignmentAccountSteps {
 // assignmentAccountsRetry is how long a settle that failed waits before it tries again.
 var assignmentAccountsRetry = 30 * time.Second
 
-// settleAssignment settles one assignment until it works or ctx ends: a failure is said and tried again every
-// assignmentAccountsRetry, never dropped, since no later write of the key may come.
-func settleAssignment(ctx context.Context, steps assignmentAccountSteps, node, module string, fresh bool) {
+// untilSettled runs settle until it works or ctx ends: a failure, or a controller not holding the lease, is said and
+// tried again every assignmentAccountsRetry, never dropped, since no later write of the key may come.
+func untilSettled(ctx context.Context, what string, settle func(context.Context) (string, error)) {
 	for {
-		said, err := steps.settle(ctx, node, module, fresh)
+		said, err := settle(ctx)
 		if err == nil {
 			if said != "" {
-				fmt.Printf("assignments: %s\n", said)
+				for _, line := range strings.Split(said, "\n") {
+					fmt.Printf("assignments: %s\n", line)
+				}
 			}
 			return
 		}
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return
 		}
-		fmt.Printf("assignments: %s on %s: %v; tried again in %s\n", module, node, err, assignmentAccountsRetry)
+		fmt.Printf("assignments: %s: %v; tried again in %s\n", what, err, assignmentAccountsRetry)
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
 			return
@@ -224,30 +284,33 @@ func watchAssignmentAccounts(ctx context.Context, open *stores) {
 	steps := liveAssignmentAccountSteps(open)
 	turns := &assignmentTurns{}
 	goServing(ctx, func() {
+		first := true
 		for {
 			var atStart []chain.Assignment
-			if err := watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx, open.inventory.WatchAssignments, turns, func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool) {
+			if err := watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx, open.inventory.WatchAssignments, turns, first, func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool) {
 				if !fresh {
 					atStart = append(atStart, a)
 					return
 				}
-				inBackground(ctx, func() { settleAssignment(ctx, steps, a.Node, a.Module, true) })
+				inBackground(ctx, func() {
+					untilSettled(ctx, a.Module+" on "+a.Node, func(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+						return steps.settle(ctx, a.Node, a.Module)
+					})
+				})
 			}, func() {
-				// The start's look, one assignment after another: a reading of the catalogue each, never all at once
-				// (issues 1945 and 1277: a burst of take-ins once filled the store).
+				// The start's look, once in the process: one reading of the catalogue, one assignment after another,
+				// then one composition of the bus's node and the grants (issues 1945 and 1277).
 				look := atStart
 				atStart = nil
 				inBackground(ctx, func() {
-					for _, a := range look {
-						if ctx.Err() != nil {
-							return
-						}
-						settleAssignment(ctx, steps, a.Node, a.Module, false)
-					}
+					untilSettled(ctx, "the start's look", func(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+						return steps.look(ctx, look)
+					})
 				})
 			}); err != nil && ctx.Err() == nil {
 				fmt.Printf("assignments: the assignments are not heard, so a new assignment's bus accounts wait: %v\n", err)
 			}
+			first = false
 			select {
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				return
@@ -258,10 +321,12 @@ func watchAssignmentAccounts(ctx context.Context, open *stores) {
 }
 
 // watchAssignmentsOnce watches the assignments until the watch or ctx ends, handing each assignment that comes to stand
-// to settle: fresh for one written after the current values were read, not fresh for one of them, and calling read once
-// the current values are all handed (the chain's Caught mark).
+// to settle. On the process's first watch, the current values are the start's look (not fresh) and read is called once
+// they are all handed (the chain's Caught mark); every other value, and every value of a watch opened again after one
+// ended, is fresh: an assignment that came to stand while no watch heard it is settled whole, never as the start's look
+// (the review of issue 1945).
 func watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx context.Context, watch func(context.Context) (<-chan chain.Entry, error),
-	turns *assignmentTurns, settle func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool), read func()) error {
+	turns *assignmentTurns, first bool, settle func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool), read func()) error {
 	ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer stop()
 	entries, err := watch(ctx)
@@ -283,7 +348,9 @@ func watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx context.Context, watch func(context.Context) (<-ch
 			if e.Caught {
 				if current {
 					current = false // the current values are read: what follows is written from now on
-					read()
+					if first {
+						read()
+					}
 				}
 				continue
 			}
@@ -292,7 +359,7 @@ func watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx context.Context, watch func(context.Context) (<-ch
 				value = e.Value
 			}
 			if a, turned := turns.heard(e.Key, value); turned {
-				settle(a, !current)
+				settle(a, !current || !first)
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts_test.go
index 80f2cf66..b0886dff 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/assignment_accounts_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -27,8 +28,11 @@ func anAssignmentValue(t *testing.T, a chain.Assignment) []byte {
 }
 
 // Only a write that makes the key stand turns it: a rewrite of a standing assignment (the provisioner's plan kept in its
-// value), an ended one, a pending one or a module only pulled in by another does not.
-func TestAnAssignmentTurnsWhenItComesToStand(t *testing.T) {
+// value), an ended one, a pending one or a module only pulled in by another does not. The process's first watch hands
+// the assignments standing when it starts to the start's look (not fresh), says once that they are all read, and hands
+// each assignment written afterwards as fresh; a watch opened again after one ended hands every standing assignment it
+// has not seen stand as fresh and never calls the start's look (the review of issue 1945).
+func TestAnAssignmentThatComesToStand(t *testing.T) {
 	at := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 16, 19, 42, 0, time.UTC)
 	stands := chain.Assignment{Node: "ace", Module: "mesh-build-node", Assigned: at}
 	ended := stands
@@ -43,7 +47,7 @@ func TestAnAssignmentTurnsWhenItComesToStand(t *testing.T) {
 		value   *chain.Assignment // nil for a delete
 		turning bool
 	}
-	cases := []struct {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
 		name   string
 		writes []write
 	}{
@@ -54,8 +58,7 @@ func TestAnAssignmentTurnsWhenItComesToStand(t *testing.T) {
 		{"a pending one does not, and turns once made", []write{{&pending, false}, {&stands, true}}},
 		{"a module only pulled in does not", []write{{&pulled, false}}},
 		{"one deleted and written again turns again", []write{{&stands, true}, {nil, false}, {&stands, true}}},
-	}
-	for _, c := range cases {
+	} {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			turns := &assignmentTurns{}
 			for i, w := range c.writes {
@@ -73,50 +76,119 @@ func TestAnAssignmentTurnsWhenItComesToStand(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		})
 	}
+
+	type handed struct {
+		key   string
+		fresh bool
+	}
+	for _, first := range []bool{true, false} {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("the watch, first %v", first), func(t *testing.T) {
+			bucket := chain.NewMemory()
+			put := func(a chain.Assignment) {
+				t.Helper()
+				value := anAssignmentValue(t, a)
+				if e, held, _ := bucket.Get(t.Context(), a.Key()); held {
+					if _, err := bucket.Update(t.Context(), a.Key(), value, e.Revision); err != nil {
+						t.Fatal(err)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if _, err := bucket.Create(t.Context(), a.Key(), value); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+			put(chain.Assignment{Node: "g14", Module: "mesh-build-go", Assigned: at})
+			got := make(chan handed, 8)
+			read := make(chan struct{}, 8)
+			ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+			done := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() {
+				done <- watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx, bucket.Watch, &assignmentTurns{}, first,
+					func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool) { got <- handed{a.Key(), fresh} },
+					func() { read <- struct{}{} })
+			}()
+			next := func() handed {
+				t.Helper()
+				select {
+				case h := <-got:
+					return h
+				case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+					t.Fatal("nothing handed")
+					return handed{}
+				}
+			}
+			// Standing when the watch opened: the start's look on the first watch, fresh on any other.
+			if h := next(); h != (handed{"g14.mesh-build-go", !first}) {
+				t.Fatalf("the standing assignment was handed %+v", h)
+			}
+			put(chain.Assignment{Node: "g14", Module: "mesh-build-go", Assigned: at, Provisioning: json.RawMessage(`{"plan":2}`)})
+			put(chain.Assignment{Node: "ace", Module: "mesh-build-node", Assigned: at})
+			if h := next(); h != (handed{"ace.mesh-build-node", true}) {
+				t.Fatalf("handed %+v, want ace.mesh-build-node as fresh (and nothing for the rewrite before it)", h)
+			}
+			stop()
+			if err := <-done; err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if want := map[bool]int{true: 1, false: 0}[first]; len(read) != want {
+				t.Fatalf("the start's look was called %d time(s), want %d", len(read), want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 // settle issues what is missing and then puts it on the bus: the node holding the bus composed (its user list) and the
-// grants written; for an assignment that just came to stand even when its accounts were minted before (a module
-// assigned again keeps its account), and never by a controller that does not hold the lease.
-func TestSettlingAnAssignmentIssuesComposesTheBusAndGrants(t *testing.T) {
+// grants written, even when every account was minted before (a module assigned again keeps its account). The start's
+// look reads the catalogue once, issues for each standing assignment, and composes the bus's node and writes the grants
+// once when it looked at any. Neither acts for a controller that does not hold the lease, nor for the controller's own
+// module.
+func TestSettlingAndTheStartsLook(t *testing.T) {
+	ace := func(m string) chain.Assignment { return chain.Assignment{Node: "ace", Module: m} }
 	cases := []struct {
 		name               string
+		look               []chain.Assignment // nil: settle mesh-build-node on ace
 		module             string
-		holds, fresh       bool
+		notHolding         bool
 		issued             bool
 		issueErr, composeE error
 		holder             string
+		wantIssues         int
 		wantComposed       []string
 		wantGrants         bool
 		wantErr            string
 	}{
-		{name: "a new assignment whose account is not minted", module: "mesh-build-node", holds: true, fresh: true,
-			issued: true, holder: "novox", wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
-		{name: "a new assignment whose account was minted before", module: "mesh-build-go", holds: true, fresh: true,
-			holder: "novox", wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
-		{name: "the start's look issuing a missing account", module: "mesh-build-node", holds: true, issued: true,
-			holder: "novox", wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
-		{name: "the start's look with every account minted does nothing", module: "mesh-build-go", holds: true,
-			holder: "novox"},
-		{name: "no lease, nothing", module: "mesh-build-node", fresh: true, issued: true, holder: "novox"},
-		{name: "the controller's own module is the terminal's", module: controllerModule, holds: true, fresh: true,
-			issued: true, holder: "novox"},
-		{name: "no bus holder: the grants still", module: "mesh-build-node", holds: true, fresh: true, issued: true,
-			wantGrants: true},
-		{name: "an issue that fails is the error, nothing composed", module: "mesh-build-node", holds: true, fresh: true,
-			issueErr: errors.New("the bus cannot be reached"), holder: "novox", wantErr: "the bus cannot be reached"},
-		{name: "a composition that fails is the error, no grant", module: "mesh-build-node", holds: true, fresh: true,
-			issued: true, holder: "novox", composeE: errors.New("store refused"), wantComposed: []string{"novox"},
-			wantErr: "store refused"},
+		{name: "an account not minted", module: "mesh-build-node", issued: true, holder: "novox", wantIssues: 1,
+			wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
+		{name: "an account minted before: the bus and the grants still", module: "mesh-build-go", holder: "novox",
+			wantIssues: 1, wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
+		{name: "no lease: nothing, and tried again", module: "mesh-build-node", notHolding: true, issued: true,
+			holder: "novox", wantErr: errNotHolding.Error()},
+		{name: "the controller's own module is the terminal's", module: controllerModule, issued: true, holder: "novox"},
+		{name: "no bus holder: the grants still", module: "mesh-build-node", issued: true, wantIssues: 1, wantGrants: true},
+		{name: "an issue that fails is the error, nothing composed", module: "mesh-build-node",
+			issueErr: errors.New("the bus cannot be reached"), holder: "novox", wantIssues: 1, wantErr: "the bus cannot be reached"},
+		{name: "a composition that fails is the error, no grant", module: "mesh-build-node", issued: true, holder: "novox",
+			composeE: errors.New("store refused"), wantIssues: 1, wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantErr: "store refused"},
+		{name: "the start's look: each issued, the bus and the grants once",
+			look: []chain.Assignment{ace("mesh-build-node"), ace(controllerModule), ace("mesh-build-go")}, issued: true,
+			holder: "novox", wantIssues: 2, wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
+		{name: "the start's look with every account minted still covers once",
+			look: []chain.Assignment{ace("mesh-build-node"), ace("mesh-build-go")}, holder: "novox", wantIssues: 2,
+			wantComposed: []string{"novox"}, wantGrants: true},
+		{name: "the start's look at nothing does nothing", look: []chain.Assignment{ace(controllerModule)}, holder: "novox"},
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			var composed []string
-			issuedFor, grants := "", false
+			issues, catalogues, grants := 0, 0, 0
 			steps := assignmentAccountSteps{
-				holds: func(context.Context) bool { return c.holds },
-				issue: func(_ context.Context, node, module string) (bool, string, error) {
-					issuedFor = module + "@" + node
+				holds: func(context.Context) bool { return !c.notHolding },
+				catalogue: func(context.Context) (map[string]catalogue.Manifest, error) {
+					catalogues++
+					return map[string]catalogue.Manifest{}, nil
+				},
+				issue: func(context.Context, map[string]catalogue.Manifest, string, string) (bool, string, error) {
+					issues++
 					if c.issued {
 						return true, "its bus credential issued", c.issueErr
 					}
@@ -127,9 +199,15 @@ func TestSettlingAnAssignmentIssuesComposesTheBusAndGrants(t *testing.T) {
 					composed = append(composed, nodes...)
 					return c.composeE
 				},
-				grants: func(context.Context) error { grants = true; return nil },
+				grants: func(context.Context) error { grants++; return nil },
+			}
+			var said string
+			var err error
+			if c.look != nil {
+				said, err = steps.look(t.Context(), c.look)
+			} else {
+				said, err = steps.settle(t.Context(), "ace", c.module)
 			}
-			said, err := steps.settle(t.Context(), "ace", c.module, c.fresh)
 			if c.wantErr != "" {
 				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.wantErr) {
 					t.Fatalf("error %v, want one saying %q", err, c.wantErr)
@@ -137,29 +215,30 @@ func TestSettlingAnAssignmentIssuesComposesTheBusAndGrants(t *testing.T) {
 			} else if err != nil {
 				t.Fatal(err)
 			}
+			if issues != c.wantIssues || catalogues > 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("%d issue(s) from %d reading(s) of the catalogue, want %d from at most one", issues, catalogues, c.wantIssues)
+			}
 			if strings.Join(composed, ",") != strings.Join(c.wantComposed, ",") {
 				t.Fatalf("composed %v, want %v", composed, c.wantComposed)
 			}
-			if grants != c.wantGrants {
-				t.Fatalf("grants written %v, want %v", grants, c.wantGrants)
+			if want := map[bool]int{true: 1}[c.wantGrants]; grants != want {
+				t.Fatalf("grants written %d time(s), want %d", grants, want)
 			}
-			skipped := !c.holds || c.module == controllerModule
-			if skipped != (issuedFor == "") {
-				t.Fatalf("issue asked for %q (lease held %v, module %s)", issuedFor, c.holds, c.module)
-			}
-			if c.wantGrants && c.wantErr == "" && !strings.Contains(said, "its grant written") {
-				t.Fatalf("said %q, want it to name the grant", said)
+			if c.wantGrants && c.wantErr == "" && !strings.Contains(said, "the grants written") {
+				t.Fatalf("said %q, want it to name the grants", said)
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 
-// The account a module speaks with on a node: the module's own when it reads `broker`, its provisioner client's when it
-// runs one alone, none when its accounts are its processes' or it does not speak on the bus.
-func TestAModulesOwnAccountOnANode(t *testing.T) {
+// The accounts a module speaks with on a node: the module's own when it reads `broker`, its provisioner client's when
+// it runs one alone, none when its accounts are its processes' or it does not speak on the bus. A process's account is
+// held in the provisioner client's form, named for the process and carrying no claims, and may be issued only when
+// the process declares its own secret broker-<process id> (ADR 0436 §2; issue 1181).
+func TestTheAccountsAModuleSpeaksWithOnANode(t *testing.T) {
 	client := aProvisioner()
 	delete(client.OwnSecrets, "broker")
-	cases := []struct {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
 		name string
 		m    catalogue.Manifest
 		user string
@@ -173,8 +252,7 @@ func TestAModulesOwnAccountOnANode(t *testing.T) {
 		{"the provisioner client alone", client,
 			broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindProvisioner, Node: "ace", Module: "mesh-provisioner"}.Username(), true},
 		{"no broker, no client", catalogue.Manifest{Module: "hello-web"}, "", false},
-	}
-	for _, c := range cases {
+	} {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			user, own := ownAccountOf(c.m, "ace")
 			if user != c.user || own != c.own {
@@ -182,70 +260,48 @@ func TestAModulesOwnAccountOnANode(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		})
 	}
-}
 
-// The watch hands the assignments standing when it starts to the start's look (not fresh), says once that they are all
-// read, and hands each assignment written afterwards as fresh; a rewrite of one that stands is handed nothing.
-func TestTheWatchHandsTheStartsLookThenEachNewAssignment(t *testing.T) {
-	at := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 16, 19, 42, 0, time.UTC)
-	bucket := chain.NewMemory()
-	put := func(a chain.Assignment) {
-		t.Helper()
-		value := anAssignmentValue(t, a)
-		if e, held, _ := bucket.Get(t.Context(), a.Key()); held {
-			if _, err := bucket.Update(t.Context(), a.Key(), value, e.Revision); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			return
+	t.Run("a process's account", func(t *testing.T) {
+		user := broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindProcess, Node: "novox", Module: "mesh-mail", Process: "send"}.Username()
+		if user != "novox.mesh-mail.send" {
+			t.Fatalf("the process's username: %q", user)
 		}
-		if _, err := bucket.Create(t.Context(), a.Key(), value); err != nil {
+		held, err := heldProcessAccount(broker.Broker{Fingerprint: "abc"}, "novox.example:4222", "novox", "mesh-mail",
+			user, "a-password")
+		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-	}
-	put(chain.Assignment{Node: "g14", Module: "mesh-build-go", Assigned: at})
-
-	type handed struct {
-		key   string
-		fresh bool
-	}
-	got := make(chan handed, 8)
-	read := make(chan struct{}, 8)
-	ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
-	done := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() {
-		done <- watchAssignmentsOnce(ctx, bucket.Watch, &assignmentTurns{},
-			func(a chain.Assignment, fresh bool) { got <- handed{a.Key(), fresh} },
-			func() { read <- struct{}{} })
-	}()
-	next := func() handed {
-		t.Helper()
-		select {
-		case h := <-got:
-			return h
-		case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-			t.Fatal("nothing handed")
-			return handed{}
+		var got map[string]any
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(held, &got); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-	}
-	if h := next(); h != (handed{"g14.mesh-build-go", false}) {
-		t.Fatalf("the start's look handed %+v", h)
-	}
-	select {
-	case <-read:
-	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("the current values were never said read")
-	}
-	replanned := chain.Assignment{Node: "g14", Module: "mesh-build-go", Assigned: at, Provisioning: json.RawMessage(`{"plan":2}`)}
-	put(replanned)
-	put(chain.Assignment{Node: "ace", Module: "mesh-build-node", Assigned: at})
-	if h := next(); h != (handed{"ace.mesh-build-node", true}) {
-		t.Fatalf("handed %+v, want ace.mesh-build-node as fresh (and nothing for the rewrite before it)", h)
-	}
-	stop()
-	if err := <-done; err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if len(read) != 0 {
-		t.Fatal("the current values were said read more than once")
-	}
+		want := map[string]any{"url": "nats://novox.example:4222", "fingerprint": "abc", "node": "novox",
+			"module": "mesh-mail", "user": "novox.mesh-mail.send", "password": "a-password"}
+		for k, v := range want {
+			if got[k] != v {
+				t.Errorf("%s: %v, want %v", k, got[k], v)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(got) != len(want) {
+			t.Errorf("the held account carries %v; want exactly %v (never claims — a process holds no seat)", got, want)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a process may be issued only with its own broker secret", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// mesh-mail's real shape: no `broker` of its own, its process declaring bus (review round 1 of issue 1181).
+		if err := mayIssue(mailSenderWithProcess()); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("a module with no broker of its own, whose process declares bus, was refused: %v", err)
+		}
+		m := mailSenderWithProcess()
+		delete(m.OwnSecrets, "broker-send")
+		err := mayIssue(m)
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("a process with no broker-<id> own secret was issued an account")
+		}
+		for _, want := range []string{"mesh-mail", "send", "broker-send", "own-secrets"} {
+			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
+				t.Errorf("the refusal does not say %q: %v", want, err)
+			}
+		}
+	})
 }
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
index 12b84e9d..c690dd34 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
@@ -965,6 +965,26 @@ func processPrincipalFor(m catalogue.Manifest, processID string) (broker.Process
 	return broker.ProcessPrincipal{}, false
 }
 
+// mintOnlyIfAbsent marks a context whose issue mints only accounts no row names yet (onlyIfAbsent).
+type mintOnlyIfAbsent struct{}
+
+// onlyIfAbsent is ctx for an issue that must never replace a minted account: the assign act's and the assignments'
+// watch's, which may run at once for one account (novox/hq ADR 0543, the review of issue 1945).
+func onlyIfAbsent(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, mintOnlyIfAbsent{}, true)
+}
+
+// mintBusUser mints u's password. By default it replaces whatever stands (a rotation: `module issue`); under
+// onlyIfAbsent it mints only when no row names u, and won false says another caller minted it first and seals it,
+// so this one seals nothing.
+func mintBusUser(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, u inventory.BusUser) (string, bool, error) {
+	if only, _ := ctx.Value(mintOnlyIfAbsent{}).(bool); only {
+		return inv.MintBusPasswordIfAbsent(ctx, u)
+	}
+	password, err := inv.MintBusPassword(ctx, u)
+	return password, err == nil, err
+}
+
 // issueOnTheNewBus gives an assigned module its credential on the bus being built.
 //
 // **Three things differ from a management call, and each is the point of the move.** The credential
@@ -990,14 +1010,16 @@ func issueOnTheNewBus(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m catalogue
 	}
 	if _, reads := m.OwnSecrets["broker"]; reads {
 		user := broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindModule, Node: node, Module: m.Module}.Username()
-		password, err := inv.MintBusPassword(ctx, inventory.BusUser{
+		password, won, err := mintBusUser(ctx, inv, inventory.BusUser{
 			Username: user, Kind: busKindOf(m.Module), Node: node, Module: m.Module,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := issueWith(ctx, inv, m, node, busAddress, known, reachable, user, password); err != nil {
-			return err
+		if won {
+			if err := issueWith(ctx, inv, m, node, busAddress, known, reachable, user, password); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	// Every process with a bus declaration gets an account of its own (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2), minted and
@@ -1021,11 +1043,11 @@ func issueOnTheNewBus(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m catalogue
 func issueProcess(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m catalogue.Manifest, pr broker.ProcessPrincipal,
 	node, busAddress string, known broker.Broker, reachable string) error {
 	user := broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindProcess, Node: node, Module: m.Module, Process: pr.Process}.Username()
-	password, err := inv.MintBusPassword(ctx, inventory.BusUser{
+	password, won, err := mintBusUser(ctx, inv, inventory.BusUser{
 		Username: user, Kind: inventory.BusProcess, Node: node, Module: m.Module,
 	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err != nil || !won {
+		return err // lost: the caller that minted it seals it
 	}
 	name := processSecretName(pr.Process)
 	held, err := heldProcessAccount(known, reachable, node, m.Module, user, password)
@@ -1091,11 +1113,11 @@ func runsTheProvisionerClient(m catalogue.Manifest) bool {
 func issueProvisionerClient(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, m catalogue.Manifest, node string,
 	known broker.Broker, reachable string) error {
 	user := broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindProvisioner, Node: node, Module: m.Module}.Username()
-	password, err := inv.MintBusPassword(ctx, inventory.BusUser{
+	password, won, err := mintBusUser(ctx, inv, inventory.BusUser{
 		Username: user, Kind: inventory.BusProvisioner, Node: node, Module: m.Module,
 	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err != nil || !won {
+		return err // lost: the caller that minted it seals it
 	}
 	held, err := json.Marshal(struct {
 		URL         string `json:"url"`
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/process_accounts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/process_accounts.go
index 43bbc84d..2032697f 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/process_accounts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/process_accounts.go
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ func issueMissingProcessAccounts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory,
 	if len(m.ProcessBuses()) == 0 || mayIssue(m) != nil {
 		return "", nil
 	}
+	// Only the missing: never a second password over one another caller minted between this look and the mint.
+	ctx = onlyIfAbsent(ctx)
 	minted, err := inv.BusMinted(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/process_issue_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/process_issue_test.go
index 1d49ad62..1e128b89 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/process_issue_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/process_issue_test.go
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
 )
 
 // mailSenderWithProcess is mesh-mail's real manifest shape (novox/hq ADR 0436 §7, §8, the lead's fixture):
@@ -25,61 +22,6 @@ func mailSenderWithProcess() catalogue.Manifest {
 	return m
 }
 
-// review round 1, finding 1 (1181): a module declaring no `broker` of its own at all — mesh-mail's real
-// shape, tools served by the tool runner — still passes mayIssue on its process's bus declaration alone.
-func TestAModuleWithNoBrokerAndOnlyAProcessMayBeIssued(t *testing.T) {
-	if err := mayIssue(mailSenderWithProcess()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("a module with no broker of its own, whose process declares bus, was refused: %v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-// 1181/AC1: a process with a bus declaration and no own secret broker-<process id> cannot be issued — the
-// same refusal mayIssue already gives a module with no `broker` (novox/hq ADR 0436 §2).
-func TestAProcessWithNoBrokerSecretCannotBeIssued(t *testing.T) {
-	m := mailSenderWithProcess()
-	delete(m.OwnSecrets, "broker-send")
-	err := mayIssue(m)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("a process with no broker-<id> own secret was issued an account")
-	}
-	for _, want := range []string{"mesh-mail", "send", "broker-send", "own-secrets"} {
-		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
-			t.Errorf("the refusal does not say %q: %v", want, err)
-		}
-	}
-	if err := mayIssue(mailSenderWithProcess()); err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("a process declaring its own broker-<id> secret was refused: %v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-// 1181/AC1: the account held for a process is the provisioner client's form — {url, fingerprint, node,
-// module, user, password} — named for the process, never the module's own account.
-func TestAProcesssHeldAccountIsTheProvisionersForm(t *testing.T) {
-	user := broker.Principal{Kind: broker.KindProcess, Node: "novox", Module: "mesh-mail", Process: "send"}.Username()
-	if user != "novox.mesh-mail.send" {
-		t.Fatalf("the process's username: %q", user)
-	}
-	held, err := heldProcessAccount(broker.Broker{Fingerprint: "abc"}, "novox.example:4222", "novox", "mesh-mail",
-		user, "a-password")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	var got map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(held, &got); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	want := map[string]any{"url": "nats://novox.example:4222", "fingerprint": "abc", "node": "novox",
-		"module": "mesh-mail", "user": "novox.mesh-mail.send", "password": "a-password"}
-	for k, v := range want {
-		if got[k] != v {
-			t.Errorf("%s: %v, want %v", k, got[k], v)
-		}
-	}
-	if len(got) != len(want) {
-		t.Errorf("the held account carries %v; want exactly %v (never claims — a process holds no seat)", got, want)
-	}
-}
-
 // 1181/AC1: composed, the process's own secret belongs to its own account at 0600 (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2;
 // the owner mechanism is issue 1170's, proven generically there — this is mesh-mail's own shape).
 func TestAProcessesOwnSecretIsOwnedByItsOwnAccount(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/inventory/bususers.go b/internal/inventory/bususers.go
index 388e6aaf..ee5c3be1 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/bususers.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/bususers.go
@@ -114,6 +114,37 @@ func (i *Inventory) writeBusUser(ctx context.Context, u BusUser, hash string) er
 	return nil
 }
 
+// MintBusPasswordIfAbsent mints u's password only when no row names u yet, in one statement: of two callers that both
+// found the account missing, exactly one wins, and the other is told it lost (won false, no password) and must seal
+// nothing, so the hash the bus holds is always the password the node is sealed (novox/hq ADR 0543, the review of
+// issue 1945: the assign act and the assignments' watch once each minted, the later hash beside the earlier seal).
+func (i *Inventory) MintBusPasswordIfAbsent(ctx context.Context, u BusUser) (string, bool, error) {
+	if u.Username == "" || u.Kind == "" {
+		return "", false, errors.New("a bus user needs a username and a kind")
+	}
+	raw := make([]byte, 32)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(raw); err != nil {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("cannot generate a bus password: %w", err)
+	}
+	password := base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(raw)
+	hash, err := hashBusPassword(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("cannot hash a bus password: %w", err)
+	}
+	tag, err := i.store.Pool().Exec(ctx,
+		`insert into bus_user (username, kind, node, module, password_hash)
+		 values ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
+		 on conflict (username) do nothing`,
+		u.Username, u.Kind, u.Node, u.Module, string(hash))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("cannot record the bus user %s: %w", u.Username, err)
+	}
+	if tag.RowsAffected() == 0 {
+		return "", false, nil
+	}
+	return password, true, nil
+}
+
 func (i *Inventory) MintBusPassword(ctx context.Context, u BusUser) (string, error) {
 	if u.Username == "" || u.Kind == "" {
 		return "", errors.New("a bus user needs a username and a kind")
diff --git a/internal/inventory/bususers_integration_test.go b/internal/inventory/bususers_integration_test.go
index 390a8ac4..e04a2786 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/bususers_integration_test.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/bususers_integration_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestABusPasswordIsReturnedOnceAndOnlyItsHashIsKept(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestMintingAgainRotatesRatherThanAddsAUser(t *testing.T) {
+func TestMintingAgainRotatesAndMintingIfAbsentHasOneWinner(t *testing.T) {
 	inv := ForTest(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -62,6 +62,50 @@ func TestMintingAgainRotatesRatherThanAddsAUser(t *testing.T) {
 	if bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword([]byte(hash), []byte(first)) == nil {
 		t.Fatal("the previous password still verifies, so a rotation revoked nothing")
 	}
+
+	// **Minting only if absent never rotates, and of several at once exactly one wins** (ADR 0543, the review of issue
+	// 1945): the assign act and the assignments' watch may both find an account missing; the winner's password is the
+	// one the store's hash verifies, so the one it seals is the one the bus accepts, and a loser seals nothing.
+	if _, won, err := inv.MintBusPasswordIfAbsent(ctx, aBusUser("shop")); err != nil || won {
+		t.Fatalf("a mint-if-absent over a minted account won %v (%v): it would replace a sealed password", won, err)
+	}
+	const racers = 8
+	type minted struct {
+		password string
+		won      bool
+		err      error
+	}
+	results := make(chan minted, racers)
+	for range racers {
+		go func() {
+			p, won, err := inv.MintBusPasswordIfAbsent(ctx, aBusUser("racer"))
+			results <- minted{p, won, err}
+		}()
+	}
+	var winner string
+	wins := 0
+	for range racers {
+		r := <-results
+		if r.err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(r.err)
+		}
+		if r.won {
+			wins++
+			winner = r.password
+		} else if r.password != "" {
+			t.Fatal("a caller that lost was handed a password to seal")
+		}
+	}
+	if wins != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d of %d concurrent mints won, want exactly one", wins, racers)
+	}
+	stored, _, err := inv.BusUserHash(ctx, "one.racer")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword([]byte(stored), []byte(winner)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("the stored hash is not the winner's password: the node would be sealed a password the bus refuses")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestForgettingANodeTakesItsBusUsersWithIt(t *testing.T) {