diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/delivery.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/delivery.go
index 4c4df022..4055e730 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/delivery.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/delivery.go
@@ -89,20 +89,29 @@ func waitingSaid(p inventory.Plan, lines []stalledLine) string {
 	if len(lines) == 0 {
 		return waitingNote(p)
 	}
-	var held, other []string
+	var held, unheld, other []string
 	for _, l := range lines {
-		if l.State == "held" {
+		switch l.State {
+		case "held":
 			held = append(held, l.Says)
-		} else {
+		case "unheld":
+			unheld = append(unheld, l.Says)
+		default:
 			other = append(other, l.Says)
 		}
 	}
-	if len(held) > 0 {
+	switch {
+	case len(held) > 0:
 		return fmt.Sprintf("published; its walk waits for %s's word, and a delivery it carries is held for a person: %s",
 			p.Delivery.Awaits, strings.Join(held, "; "))
+	case len(other) > 0:
+		// Not at its turn: it goes when its turn comes. A hand start here would skip its group's order (review of
+		// novox/hq issue 529), so none is offered.
+		return fmt.Sprintf("published; its walk waits for %s's word: %s", p.Delivery.Awaits, strings.Join(other, "; "))
 	}
+	// Held by nothing: nothing will give it its word, so the hand start is the way on.
 	return fmt.Sprintf("published; its walk waits for %s's word: %s — `plans go %s --why …` starts it by hand",
-		p.Delivery.Awaits, strings.Join(other, "; "), p.ID)
+		p.Delivery.Awaits, strings.Join(unheld, "; "), p.ID)
 }
 
 // letGo gives a waiting walk its word: by the delivery's owner, or a person. The next advance asks its
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/issue529_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/issue529_test.go
index 858672db..d8cc2fb1 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/issue529_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/issue529_test.go
@@ -51,8 +51,26 @@ func TestAWalkWaitingOnADeliveryNotAtItsTurnSaysSo(t *testing.T) {
 	p := waitingWalk(now)
 	waits := walkWaits{p.ID: {{ID: "novox/mesh-sdk@9747f3e1b1ac", State: "published", Walk: p.ID,
 		Says: "not let go yet: novox/mesh-tools@3f0c1a6cec18 (published) carried by it not at its turn"}}}
-	if line := planLineSaid(p, now, pauseView{}, tierAtLeast, nil, waits); !strings.Contains(line, "not at its turn") ||
-		!strings.Contains(line, "novox/mesh-tools@3f0c1a6cec18") {
+	line := planLineSaid(p, now, pauseView{}, tierAtLeast, nil, waits)
+	if !strings.Contains(line, "not at its turn") || !strings.Contains(line, "novox/mesh-tools@3f0c1a6cec18") {
+		t.Fatalf("the line reads %q", line)
+	}
+	// No hand start offered: it would skip the group's order (review of issue 529).
+	if strings.Contains(line, "plans go") {
+		t.Fatalf("a walk not at its turn points at a hand start: %q", line)
+	}
+}
+
+// A walk nothing holds — the nzbgeek case, its merges' deliveries ended as nothing-to-move — is said so, and the hand
+// start is the way on.
+func TestAWalkHeldByNothingSaysWhyAndTheHandStart(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 11, 20, 30, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	p := waitingWalk(now)
+	waits := walkWaits{p.ID: {{ID: "novox/mesh-media-catalog@cdcdcdcd0000", State: "unheld", Walk: p.ID,
+		Says: "held by nothing: its merges' deliveries ended as nothing-to-move (novox/mesh-media-catalog@abababab0000), " +
+			"yet the walk moves nzbgeek, nzbget — nothing gives it its word"}}}
+	line := planLineSaid(p, now, pauseView{}, tierAtLeast, nil, waits)
+	if !strings.Contains(line, "ended as nothing-to-move") || !strings.Contains(line, "plans go "+p.ID) {
 		t.Fatalf("the line reads %q", line)
 	}
 }