diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/integration_test.go
index 93f7a489..d08ee790 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/integration_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ import (
 	occ "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/operator-and-conversation/go/clients/operatorchannelclient"
 	oc "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/provisioning/go/clients/meshprovisionerclient"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-teller/tellerevents"
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/announce"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buscompose"
@@ -1038,25 +1037,21 @@ func TestABackupAnswerIsWrittenIntoTheNodesWant(t *testing.T) {
 	if w2.Words == w1.Words {
 		t.Errorf("the second answer left the want as it was: %+v", w2)
 	}
-	// Issue 1966 note 165 (AC165-1, AC165-4): the move is superseded, the trunk and then the want naming another build; the pass takes the backup
-	// ask away, and the teller's ask-ended for it, said after, writes nothing.
+	// Issue 1966 note 165 (AC165-1): the move is superseded, the trunk and then the want naming another build; the pass takes
+	// the backup ask away and clears the condition of the failed backup.
 	fOther := meshcatalogclient.SourcePrefix2 + strings.Repeat("c", 64)
 	b.fixture(t, "web", fOther, `{"module":"web","version":"2"}`) // the trunk moves on: the want follows
-	for deadline := time.Now().Add(15 * time.Second); b.hasKey(buckets.Asks, akey); time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(15 * time.Second); ; time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
+		cleared := false
+		for k, c := range b.conditionsSaid(t) {
+			cleared = cleared || (strings.Contains(k, "backup") && c.State == occ.StateCleared)
+		}
+		if !b.hasKey(buckets.Asks, akey) && cleared {
+			break
+		}
 		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
-			t.Fatal("the backup ask of a move the want left behind was not taken away")
+			t.Fatalf("the backup of a move the want left behind: ask there %v, condition cleared %v", b.hasKey(buckets.Asks, akey), cleared)
 		}
-	}
-	body, err := tellerevents.EncodeEnded(tellerevents.Ended{Key: akey, Ask: a2.Ask.ID, Outcome: occ.OutcomeExpired})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if _, err := b.js.Publish(b.ctx, askEndedSubject, body); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	time.Sleep(time.Second)
-	if b.hasKey(buckets.Asks, akey) {
-		t.Error("an ended backup ask whose want moved on was written again")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass.go
index 73ac607e..477ec9c2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass.go
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ func (p *passer) fingerprintsOf(node, module, trunkFP string) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
-// staleAsks takes away, at every pass, each hold, restore and record ask that staleAsk names (issue 1906, note 28): an ask
+// staleAsks takes away, at every pass, each hold, restore, record and backup ask that staleAsk names (issue 1906, note 28): an ask
 // outlived its fingerprint, and the teller takes its router ask back from the operator when the key goes. With the trunk not
 // read at all (no module), nothing is taken away.
 func (p *passer) staleAsks(ctx context.Context, trunk map[string]meshcatalog.ModulesByModuleValue) {