diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools/main.go
index 4930788..3bb3fd1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 
 	"mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build"
 )
@@ -31,7 +32,8 @@ func Tools(r build.StuckReader, askAgain func(key string, value []byte) error, q
 			Description: "Every build key that waits (building or queued), oldest first: its module, fingerprint, step words and since when, and each ask it " +
 				"waits on by language with its id, when it was put, its asking (1 for the first; the builder asks an ask again when it can no longer be " +
 				"answered, at most 3 times) and what its build module's steps hold of it (none, or its state on its node since its start). The " +
-				"seat workers' delivery counts are not readable by the builder. With module, that module's keys only. Read-only.",
+				"seat workers' delivery counts are not readable by the builder. dead_letters says whether the builder hears the asks the build seats give up " +
+				"on (issue 734), and why not: heard, a given-up ask is asked again at once; deaf, at its check bound. With module, that module's keys only. Read-only.",
 			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{
 				"module": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "only this module's keys"}}},
 			Run: func(args map[string]any) (any, error) { return r.Stuck(str(args, "module")) }},
@@ -166,7 +168,8 @@ func main() {
 		steps[bm] = read(stdio.State(bm + ".steps"))
 	}
 	reasks := stdio.State(build.ReAsksState)
-	r := build.StuckReader{Logf: func(f string, a ...any) { fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[mesh-delivery-builder-tools] "+f+"\n", a...) }, Builds: read(stdio.State("builds")), ReAsks: read(reasks), Steps: steps}
+	r := build.StuckReader{Logf: func(f string, a ...any) { fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[mesh-delivery-builder-tools] "+f+"\n", a...) }, Builds: read(stdio.State("builds")), ReAsks: read(reasks), Steps: steps,
+		Hearing: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState))}
 	put := func(key string, value []byte) error {
 		_, err := reasks.Put(key, json.RawMessage(value))
 		return err
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
index c3223b3..7d71872 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
@@ -151,8 +151,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	asks := buildrun.JetStreamAsks{JS: js}
 	// The asks the build seats gave up on (issue 734): heard from DEAD_LETTERS, each ends the wait for its step at once,
 	// and the lane asks its part again (Builder.waitOnce) instead of waiting for the check bound.
+	// Heard in the background, and again at a reconnect or an ask while it is not; whether it is heard is kept in the
+	// state hearing, which builder_stuck says (dead_letters).
 	dead := &buildrun.DeadLetters{}
-	defer buildrun.HearDeadLetters(ctx, js, delivery.AskLanguages, dead, logger.Printf)()
+	hearingKV := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.BuilderModule+"_"+buildrun.HearingState, "builder_stuck cannot say whether DEAD_LETTERS is heard", logger.Printf)
+	hearing := buildrun.NewDeadLetterHearing(ctx, buildrun.JetStreamDeadLetters{JS: js}, delivery.AskLanguages, dead, logger.Printf,
+		buildrun.SayHearing(ctx, hearingKV, logger.Printf))
+	defer hearing.Stop()
+	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again() })
 	// The builder asks the controller, as its own account, whether the artifact store still holds a done key's blobs
 	// (the seat verb held, novox/hq issue 1937) before it leaves the key done.
 	account, err := process.ReadAccount(path)
@@ -166,7 +172,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	defer calls.Close()
 	b := &build.Builder{
 		Claimer: build.Claimer{Store: kvStore{builds}, By: cred.Node + "." + cred.Module},
-		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead}, Bound: bound},
+		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}, Bound: bound},
 		Held:    heldOnTheBus{js},
 		// An ask that can no longer be answered is asked again (issue 1945), read at the step bound: a context's bound.
 		Gone:       heldOnTheBus{js},
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.mod b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.mod
index 2357313..dd89931 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-builder
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026130046-d96b9fd66069
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.sum b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.sum
index 9a97538..ad2ab1a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026130046-d96b9fd66069 h1:dPwZwGbW8LuT4p2baXuiyVNOWU6XO46kbw46VU5TAUQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026130046-d96b9fd66069/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5 h1:sBSS509nZDRczmKb/IcHoLtFKJR36eZdQoTMK9tScsU=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
index a65a63b..c8fcd3e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
@@ -849,12 +849,17 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 		running, _ := json.Marshal(delivery.Step{V: delivery.Version, ID: "mvo53jcm70b5f8", Tool: "delivery ask", Node: "g14", State: delivery.StepRunning, Started: at})
 		_, reask, _ := NewReAsk("m", fp1, "stuck", "shanks.lead", at)
 		r := StuckReader{Builds: state(map[string]string{key: string(building), done: string(finished)}), ReAsks: state(map[string]string{key: string(reask)}),
-			Steps: map[string]StateRead{buildrun.GoBuildModule: state(map[string]string{}), ImageBuildModule: state(map[string]string{"g14.mvo53jcm70b5f8": string(running)})},
-			Now:   func() time.Time { return at.Add(time.Hour) }}
+			Steps:   map[string]StateRead{buildrun.GoBuildModule: state(map[string]string{}), ImageBuildModule: state(map[string]string{"g14.mvo53jcm70b5f8": string(running)})},
+			Hearing: state(map[string]string{buildrun.HearingKey: `{"heard":false,"streams":["SEAT_NODE_BUILD_GO"],"why":"DEAD_LETTERS is not heard: SEAT_NODE_BUILD_GO: permissions violation","at":"2026-10-26T13:00:00Z"}`}),
+			Now:     func() time.Time { return at.Add(time.Hour) }}
 		out, err := r.Stuck("")
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
+		// Issue 734, review round 1: a builder that does not hear DEAD_LETTERS says so, with why.
+		if dl := out["dead_letters"].(map[string]any); dl["heard"] != false || !strings.Contains(dl["why"].(string), "permissions violation") {
+			t.Errorf("dead_letters = %v, want not heard, saying why", dl)
+		}
 		stuck := out["stuck"].([]Stuck)
 		if len(stuck) != 1 || stuck[0].Key != key || stuck[0].Age != "1h0m0s" || stuck[0].NoneStep != 1 || stuck[0].ReAsk == nil || stuck[0].ReAsk.Why != "stuck" {
 			t.Fatalf("stuck = %+v, want the building key alone, an hour old, one ask with no step, with its ask again", stuck)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/stuck.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/stuck.go
index 41184c4..50ed667 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/stuck.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/stuck.go
@@ -106,7 +106,9 @@ type StuckReader struct {
 	ReAsks StateRead
 	// Steps are the build modules' steps states, by build module.
 	Steps map[string]StateRead
-	Now   func() time.Time
+	// Hearing is the builder's state hearing: whether it hears DEAD_LETTERS (issue 734); without it none is said.
+	Hearing StateRead
+	Now     func() time.Time
 	// Logf, when set, gets the one line a call logs: the values it read and the time it took.
 	Logf func(format string, args ...any)
 }
@@ -149,6 +151,20 @@ func parallel(n int, read func(i int) error) error {
 }
 
 // Stuck is every key building or queued with its asks, oldest first; with module, that module's only.
+// deadLetters says whether the builder hears the asks the build seats give up on (issue 734), and why not: deaf, a lane
+// whose ask is given up waits for its check bound (buildrun.HearingHealth over the kept hearing).
+func (r StuckReader) deadLetters() map[string]any {
+	if r.Hearing.Get == nil {
+		return map[string]any{"heard": false, "why": "the builder's state hearing is not readable here"}
+	}
+	raw, _, err := r.Hearing.Get(buildrun.HearingKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		return map[string]any{"heard": false, "why": "the builder's state hearing cannot be read: " + err.Error()}
+	}
+	a := buildrun.HearingHealth(raw)
+	return map[string]any{"heard": a.Healthy, "why": a.Why}
+}
+
 func (r StuckReader) Stuck(module string) (map[string]any, error) {
 	started := time.Now()
 	reads := 0
@@ -268,6 +284,7 @@ func (r StuckReader) Stuck(module string) (map[string]any, error) {
 	})
 	answer := map[string]any{"stuck": out, "count": len(out),
 		"delivery_counts": "not readable by the builder: the build seats' workers' information is granted to the delivery view alone (its backlog); an ask given up on is told by the builder at its check bound and asked again"}
+	answer["dead_letters"] = r.deadLetters()
 	if cut {
 		answer["cut"], answer["note"] = true, fmt.Sprintf("read %d of %d build keys in key order and stopped; give a module to read its keys alone", MaxReads, total)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/manifest_test.go
index b629f5c..6679a16 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/manifest_test.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1607/AC1
 	if m.Module != "mesh-delivery-builder" {
 		t.Errorf("module = %q", m.Module)
 	}
-	if want := []state{{Name: "builds", History: 5}, {Name: "instances", History: 1}, {Name: "queues", History: 1}, {Name: "reasks", History: 1}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) { // delivery.BuilderBuildsHistory
+	if want := []state{{Name: "builds", History: 5}, {Name: "hearing", History: 1}, {Name: "instances", History: 1}, {Name: "queues", History: 1}, {Name: "reasks", History: 1}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) { // delivery.BuilderBuildsHistory
 		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want %+v", m.State, want)
 	}
 	// 1887/A4c: the builder chooses no node, so it reads neither presence nor have, invokes no build module's tool and
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/module.json
index 94426fc..e4d2859 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/module.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
   ],
   "state": [
     { "name": "builds", "history": 5 },
+    { "name": "hearing", "history": 1 },
     { "name": "instances", "history": 1 },
     { "name": "queues", "history": 1 },
     { "name": "reasks", "history": 1 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
index c36295c..8e5ec44 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 
 	"mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check"
 )
@@ -105,7 +106,8 @@ func TryTools(tr Trying) []stdio.Tool {
 			Description: "Try a pushed head before its pull request is opened: the checker judges it as it judges a pull request's head, merged onto its trunk's head, " +
 				"its unit and integration levels through the build modules, and owes the forge nothing. Answers the try's id at once; " + check.TryReadTool + " reads " +
 				"where it stands. A try of the same head that waits or runs is the answer to a second ask; at most 4 wait or run at once, mesh-wide. A repository " +
-				"the checker checks no level of (one whose trunk the gate does not name) is refused.",
+				"the checker checks no level of (one whose trunk the gate does not name) is refused. A try whose ask no build node took within the step " +
+				"bound ends as error; its ask stays in the build seat's stream and may still run later, judged by nobody (issue 734).",
 			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "required": []string{"repository", "head"}, "properties": map[string]any{
 				"repository": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "<owner>/<name>"},
 				"head":       map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the full commit to try, 40 or 64 hex digits"},
@@ -225,7 +227,8 @@ func Tools(r check.Reader) []stdio.Tool {
 				"left_running with why, and not counted. Nothing holds the checker and it has no capacity of its own: a check is an ask on the " +
 				"build seats' streams, whose backlog the delivery view shows (novox/hq ADR 0525). held_by_turn names the candidates whose check an approved " +
 				"merge's turn holds off (novox/hq ADR 0548 §3), with the repository and the merge that waits; the gate's turns tool reads every turn and its " +
-				"hand-now tool steers one. Read-only.",
+				"hand-now tool steers one. dead_letters says whether the checker hears the asks the build seats give up on (issue 734), and why not: " +
+				"deaf, a try or check whose ask is given up waits until its bound. Read-only.",
 			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{}},
 			Run:   func(map[string]any) (any, error) { return r.Status() }},
 	}
@@ -245,7 +248,7 @@ func main() {
 		PreviewState: read(stdio.State("previews")),
 		StepStates:   map[string]check.StateRead{"mesh-build-go": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-go.steps")), "mesh-build-node": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-node.steps"))},
 		HaveState:    read(stdio.State("node-engine.have")), StepBound: stepBound(),
-		TurnState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.turns"))}
+		TurnState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.turns")), HearingState: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState))}
 	r.Runs = runsOf{read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-indexer.modules"))} // the node-engine at the commit the mesh runs, as the checker reads it
 	tries := stdio.State(check.TriesState)
 	source := stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.source")
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
index d3e8e23..4621c46 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ func TestTheCheckerSaysOwedReadableOnTheBus(t *testing.T) { // R2-1
 		break
 	}
 	if said.Module != "mesh-delivery-checker" || said.Node != "n1" || !said.Keeps("owed") || !said.Readable("owed") ||
-		!said.Readable("previews") || !said.Readable("verdicts") || !said.Readable("kept") || said.Readable("tries") || len(said.States) != 5 {
+		!said.Readable("previews") || !said.Readable("verdicts") || !said.Readable("kept") || said.Readable("tries") || said.Readable("hearing") || len(said.States) != 6 {
 		t.Fatalf("the checker said %+v, want its five states with kept, owed, previews and verdicts readable (1929/AC4; 1887 A5b)", said)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
index 21a0d2c..e274d4c 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ func durationEnv(getenv func(string) string, name string, def time.Duration) (ti
 var keptStates = []announce.State{
 	// The kept verdicts are read by the Go build module, which takes them for a check ask's unchanged packages (issue 1887's
 	// design limit 1); the checker alone writes them (ADR 0444 clause 5).
+	// Whether DEAD_LETTERS is heard (issue 734): read by the checker's own status tool alone.
+	{Name: "hearing"},
 	{Name: "kept", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "owed", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "previews", Readable: true},
@@ -199,9 +201,15 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	// free slot (novox/hq ADR 0525 §1, §3): the checker chooses no node and starts no step.
 	asks := buildrun.JetStreamAsks{JS: js}
 	// The asks the build seats gave up on (issue 734): heard from DEAD_LETTERS, each ends the step its asker waits for.
+	// Heard in the background, and again at a reconnect or an ask while it is not; whether it is heard is kept in the
+	// state hearing, which checker_status says (dead_letters).
 	dead := &buildrun.DeadLetters{}
-	defer buildrun.HearDeadLetters(ctx, js, []string{delivery.AskGo, delivery.AskNode}, dead, logger.Printf)()
-	waiter := buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead}
+	hearingKV := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, check.HearingBucket, "checker_status cannot say whether DEAD_LETTERS is heard", logger.Printf)
+	hearing := buildrun.NewDeadLetterHearing(ctx, buildrun.JetStreamDeadLetters{JS: js}, []string{delivery.AskGo, delivery.AskNode}, dead,
+		logger.Printf, buildrun.SayHearing(ctx, hearingKV, logger.Printf))
+	defer hearing.Stop()
+	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again() })
+	waiter := buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}
 	ch := &check.Checker{
 		Verdicts: kvStore{buckets[delivery.CheckerVerdictsBucket]},
 		Owed:     kvStore{buckets[delivery.CheckerOwedBucket]},
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/lostask.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/lostask.go
index 4335752..4db60c6 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/lostask.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/lostask.go
@@ -28,3 +28,7 @@ func IsLostAsk(v delivery.Verdict) bool {
 func IsNotTaken(v delivery.Verdict) bool {
 	return v.State == delivery.VerdictFail && strings.Contains(v.Failed.Words, buildrun.NotTakenWords)
 }
+
+// HearingBucket is the checker's state hearing: whether it hears DEAD_LETTERS (buildrun.Hearing under
+// buildrun.HearingKey), which checker_status says (dead_letters).
+const HearingBucket = delivery.CheckerModule + "_" + buildrun.HearingState
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
index ed7eaec..28ed623 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 )
 
 // The read tools (novox/hq ADR 0484 clauses 8 and 13, issue 1686): what the checker stored, as stored, with the line of the
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ type Reader struct {
 	// Runs says which commit the mesh runs of a module (the indexer's modules), as the checker's decision reads it: the
 	// node-engine a verdict names is compared at its running commit, not at the trunk's (ADR 0548 §6); nil knows none.
 	Runs interface{ CommitOf(module string) string }
-	Now  func() time.Time
+	// HearingState is the checker's state hearing: whether it hears DEAD_LETTERS (issue 734).
+	HearingState StateRead
+	Now          func() time.Time
 }
 
 // VerdictRead is a verdict as stored with the full report of the status of each pull request it judged (Report), when the
@@ -320,7 +323,29 @@ type Status struct {
 	// HeldByTurn are the candidates whose check an approved merge's turn holds off (ADR 0548 §3), by group: the repository and
 	// the group of the merge that waits. Their check is claimed when that turn goes.
 	HeldByTurn map[string]string `json:"held_by_turn"`
-	Notes      []string          `json:"notes,omitempty"`
+	// DeadLetters says whether the checker hears the asks the build seats give up on (issue 734): deaf, a try or check
+	// whose ask is given up waits until its bound.
+	DeadLetters DeadLettersHeard `json:"dead_letters"`
+	Notes       []string         `json:"notes,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// DeadLettersHeard is the checker's hearing of DEAD_LETTERS as the status says it: healthy or not, and why.
+type DeadLettersHeard struct {
+	Heard bool   `json:"heard"`
+	Why   string `json:"why"`
+}
+
+// deadLetters reads the checker's kept hearing (buildrun.HearingHealth).
+func (r Reader) deadLetters() DeadLettersHeard {
+	if r.HearingState.Get == nil {
+		return DeadLettersHeard{Why: "the checker's state hearing is not readable here"}
+	}
+	raw, err := r.HearingState.Get(buildrun.HearingKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DeadLettersHeard{Why: "the checker's state hearing cannot be read: " + err.Error()}
+	}
+	a := buildrun.HearingHealth(raw)
+	return DeadLettersHeard{Heard: a.Healthy, Why: a.Why}
 }
 
 // turns reads the gate's merge turns, by repository; nil when they cannot be read, said in a note.
@@ -501,6 +526,7 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	st.DeadLetters = r.deadLetters()
 	st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "nothing holds the checker and it holds no place: running_steps are the build modules' keys that can still be running (started within the step bound, their build module running on the node); a candidate without a verdict has its check ask in a build seat's stream, waiting for a node with a free slot, whose backlog the delivery view shows (ADR 0525 §4, §9)")
 	return st, nil
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
index 0f113c1..6f1b3f9 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@ func TestTheStatusToolReadsRunningSteps(t *testing.T) {
 		CandidateState: fakeState{ckey: cand}.read(),
 		VerdictState:   fakeState{}.read(),
 		HaveState:      fakeState{"shanks.mesh-build-go": haveOf(t, delivery.PhaseRunning)}.read(),
-		Now:            func() time.Time { return time.Date(2026, 10, 22, 15, 10, 0, 0, time.UTC) },
+		HearingState: fakeState{"dead-letters": []byte(`{"heard":false,"streams":["SEAT_NODE_BUILD_GO"],` +
+			`"why":"DEAD_LETTERS is not heard, so an ask a build seat gives up on is waited for until its bound: SEAT_NODE_BUILD_GO: permissions violation",` +
+			`"at":"2026-10-26T13:00:00Z"}`)}.read(),
+		Now: func() time.Time { return time.Date(2026, 10, 22, 15, 10, 0, 0, time.UTC) },
 	}
 	st, err := rd.Status()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -156,9 +159,13 @@ func TestTheStatusToolReadsRunningSteps(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(st.Unjudged) != 1 || st.Unjudged[0] != "feat/x" {
 		t.Errorf("unjudged = %v", st.Unjudged)
 	}
+	// Issue 734, review round 1: a checker that does not hear DEAD_LETTERS says so in its status, with why.
+	if st.DeadLetters.Heard || !strings.Contains(st.DeadLetters.Why, "permissions violation") {
+		t.Errorf("dead letters = %+v, want not heard, saying why", st.DeadLetters)
+	}
 	// What cannot be read is said, not guessed.
 	st, err = Reader{}.Status()
-	if err != nil || len(st.Notes) == 0 {
+	if err != nil || len(st.Notes) == 0 || st.DeadLetters.Heard {
 		t.Errorf("empty status = %+v, %v", st, err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
index de36137..815ce91 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1678/AC1
 		t.Errorf("module = %q", m.Module)
 	}
 	// delivery.CheckerKeptHistory, CheckerOwedHistory, PreviewsHistory, CheckerVerdictsHistory; the names follow the SDK's buckets.
-	if want := []state{{Name: "kept", History: 1}, {Name: "owed", History: 5}, {Name: "previews", History: 5}, {Name: "tries", History: 1}, {Name: "verdicts", History: 5}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) {
+	if want := []state{{Name: "hearing", History: 1}, {Name: "kept", History: 1}, {Name: "owed", History: 5}, {Name: "previews", History: 5}, {Name: "tries", History: 1}, {Name: "verdicts", History: 5}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) {
 		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want %+v", m.State, want)
 	}
 	if want := []string{"mesh-build-go.steps", "mesh-build-go.toolchains", "mesh-build-node.steps", "mesh-build-node.toolchains", "mesh-controller.assignments",
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
index 53e50b4..a968770 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     { "name": "checks", "events": ["preview.**", "owed.**"] }
   ],
   "state": [
+    { "name": "hearing", "history": 1 },
     { "name": "kept", "history": 1 },
     { "name": "owed", "history": 5 },
     { "name": "previews", "history": 5 },
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/go.mod b/modules/mesh-grants/go.mod
index 3d6dc66..423f7c2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-grants
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026112527-c2a410bb6376
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/go.sum b/modules/mesh-grants/go.sum
index 8f26273..fa3242c 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/go.sum
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026080443-136fa8b2a896 h1:5rHfru5NJ7SK20QOt8YUJSglcn1gsjtLc9AGmWYGnRQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026080443-136fa8b2a896/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026105311-175a5567b8bd h1:ef6y09csev6xY/suFrIFGUXbgvDA29kummFtHcIb3B8=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026105311-175a5567b8bd/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026110029-83ee7769d8ee h1:ZdBMkF4WYJi82jb3xYi9Z2lXN/iMTn9r3SFC122ROY4=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026110029-83ee7769d8ee/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026112527-c2a410bb6376 h1:by2zBASLb8h5jA1IiYJWykXwLnHYpuZh/zFNa4NsbOU=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026112527-c2a410bb6376/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5 h1:sBSS509nZDRczmKb/IcHoLtFKJR36eZdQoTMK9tScsU=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026131841-3203358c4cb5/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=