diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/desk_secret_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/desk_secret_test.go
index eef0bc04..c63364fc 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/desk_secret_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/desk_secret_test.go
@@ -226,3 +226,22 @@ func TestASecretValueIsNeverAcceptedThroughAVerb(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// The `give` verb's own line passes the terminal-only rule of ADR 0266, and no other `secret accept` does: a
+// value, a file, a provider or an extra word is still the terminal's alone.
+func TestOnlyTheGiveLinePassesTheTerminalRuleForSecrets(t *testing.T) {
+	if err := terminalOnly([]string{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token", "--at-desk", "laptop"}); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("give's line refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, argv := range [][]string{
+		{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token"},
+		{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token", "--from", "/tmp/x"},
+		{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token", "--at-desk", "laptop", "--local"},
+		{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "--provider", "--at-desk", "laptop"},
+		{"secret", "export", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token", "--at-desk", "laptop"},
+	} {
+		if err := terminalOnly(argv); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%v passed the terminal rule", argv)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go
index 308fcbbd..48b17938 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go
@@ -1500,6 +1500,20 @@ var terminalOnlyCommands = map[string]string{
 	"licence":  "the licences' secrets",
 }
 
+// givenAtTheDesk is exactly the line the `give` verb composes, and nothing beside it: `secret accept <node>
+// <module> <secret> --at-desk <machine>`, with no other word — no value, no file, no provider.
+func givenAtTheDesk(argv []string) bool {
+	if len(argv) != 7 || argv[0] != "secret" || argv[1] != "accept" || argv[5] != "--at-desk" {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, w := range argv[2:5] {
+		if w == "" || strings.HasPrefix(w, "-") {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return argv[6] != "" && !strings.HasPrefix(argv[6], "-")
+}
+
 // terminalOnly refuses, through any verb, a command that is the operator's at the controller's terminal
 // alone (novox/hq ADR 0266). **Every `node` subcommand that is not a read**: `node account` and
 // `node agent-account` above all. Whoever may call a verb includes agents, and an agent that named itself
@@ -1513,8 +1527,10 @@ func terminalOnly(argv []string) error {
 		return terminalRefusal("%s is run at the controller's terminal only, never through a verb: it holds %s, and "+
 			"whoever may call a verb includes agents (novox/hq ADR 0266). Nothing was done", argv[0], what)
 	}
-	// Of a secret's commands only rotation, which seals the new value to the machine that uses it.
-	if argv[0] == "secret" && (len(argv) < 2 || argv[1] != "rotate") {
+	// Of a secret's commands only rotation, which seals the new value to the machine that uses it, and the
+	// `give` verb's own line: an own secret typed by the operator into the desk's hidden prompt, sealed to this
+	// call and then to the module's machine, so no value travels in the verb or its answer (hq ADR 0259 §10).
+	if argv[0] == "secret" && (len(argv) < 2 || argv[1] != "rotate") && !givenAtTheDesk(argv) {
 		return terminalRefusal("secret %s is run at the controller's terminal only, never through a verb: accepting, "+
 			"recovering or exporting a secret hands it to whoever asks, and that includes agents (novox/hq ADR "+
 			"0266). Nothing was done", strings.Join(argv[1:], " "))