diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog.go
index 1a3f17e9..3fe7b11b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package view
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -55,13 +56,32 @@ func (b *Backlog) Rows() []BacklogRow {
 			}
 			row.Waiting, row.Held = waiting, held
 			if waiting > 0 {
-				body, err := b.Message(stream, subject, next)
-				if err == nil {
-					var a buildstep.StepAsk
-					a, err = buildstep.DecodeStepAsk(body)
-					if err == nil {
-						row.Oldest, row.OldestSecs = a.At, int64(now().Sub(a.At).Seconds())
+				// Both forms of the accept subject: main's and the asker's (design 47 G §600, §484); the oldest of the two.
+				var oldest *buildstep.StepAsk
+				var err error
+				for _, form := range []string{subject, subject + ".*"} {
+					body, gerr := b.Message(stream, form, next)
+					if errors.Is(gerr, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound) {
+						continue
 					}
+					if gerr != nil {
+						err = gerr
+						break
+					}
+					a, derr := buildstep.DecodeStepAsk(body)
+					if derr != nil {
+						err = derr
+						break
+					}
+					if oldest == nil || a.At.Before(oldest.At) {
+						oldest = &a
+					}
+				}
+				if err == nil && oldest == nil {
+					err = jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound
+				}
+				if err == nil {
+					row.Oldest, row.OldestSecs = oldest.At, int64(now().Sub(oldest.At).Seconds())
 				}
 				if err != nil {
 					row.Error = fmt.Sprintf("the oldest waiting ask cannot be read: %v", err)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog_test.go
index e8dc2fa9..4e704170 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-view/internal/view/backlog_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/sdk/buildstep"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 )
 
 func stepAsk(t *testing.T, id, kind string, at time.Time) []byte {
@@ -37,10 +38,16 @@ func fakeSeats(t *testing.T, now time.Time) *Backlog {
 			return 0, 0, 1, nil
 		},
 		Message: func(stream, s string, seq uint64) ([]byte, error) {
-			if s != subject || seq != 42 {
+			if seq != 42 {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("asked %s at %d", s, seq)
 			}
-			return oldest, nil
+			switch s {
+			case subject: // main's form holds a younger ask
+				return stepAsk(t, "m0000002bbbbbb", buildstep.AskCheck, now.Add(-30*time.Second)), nil
+			case subject + ".*": // the asker's form holds the oldest
+				return oldest, nil
+			}
+			return nil, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound
 		}}
 }