diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
index 00e7835d..a1c1e3ca 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
@@ -5207,3 +5207,67 @@ func (h heldHalf) Revision() (meshwants.AssignmentRevision, bool) {
 	}
 	return *h.rev, true
 }
+
+// TestPassBeforeTheCatalogHalfComposesFromTheTrunkToo is design 47 G A-363: while the catalog half is unread, each account is composed
+// from the manifest the indexer's `modules` first view names for its module (the trunk's) in union with what its want's entry gives, never
+// from the list in force alone, so the first parts of a new build get their subjects before any of them serves.
+func TestPassBeforeTheCatalogHalfComposesFromTheTrunkToo(t *testing.T) {
+	older := strings.Replace(xManifest, `{"name":"kept","history":3}`, `{"name":"older"}`, 1)
+	rows := []struct {
+		name     string
+		entry    bool // the want's entry is answered (the older build); else it is not answered
+		wantsOld bool
+	}{
+		{"the want's entry is not answered", false, false},
+		{"the want names an entry that is asked", false, false},
+		{"the want's entry is an older build", true, true},
+	}
+	for _, row := range rows {
+		t.Run(row.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			b := fixture()
+			if strings.Contains(row.name, "asked") {
+				b.put(grants.ReadWants, "want.a.mod-x", meshwantsclient.Want{V: keys.Version, Fp: "src2:" + strings.Repeat("cd", 32), Composed: "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("ef", 32)})
+				b.put(grants.ReadHave, "a.mod-x", nodeengine.HaveByNodeModuleValue{V: keys.Version, Phase: nodeengineclient.PhaseRunning, Health: nodeengineclient.HealthOK,
+					Fp: "src2:" + strings.Repeat("cd", 32)})
+				b.entriesAsked = true
+			}
+			if row.entry {
+				digest := meshcatalogclient.ManifestDigest([]byte(older))
+				b.put(grants.ReadManifests, digest, meshcatalog.ManifestsByDigestValue{V: keys.Version, Module: "mod-x", Manifest: older})
+				fp := "src2:" + strings.Repeat("cd", 32)
+				b.put(grants.ReadWants, "want.a.mod-x", meshwantsclient.Want{V: keys.Version, Fp: fp, Composed: "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("ef", 32)})
+				b.entry(fp, digest)
+			}
+			b.mu.Lock()
+			b.catalogWaited = []string{"the catalog half of the branch main"}
+			b.mu.Unlock()
+			in := grants.ReadInputs(b, &grants.Manifests{})
+			if in.CatalogUnread == "" {
+				t.Fatal("the catalog half is not unread")
+			}
+			// An entry asked and not answered is no failed read while the catalog half is unread: the trunk's manifest composes the
+			// account and the list is not held for it.
+			if f := in.ReadFailed(); len(f) > 0 {
+				t.Errorf("the unread catalog half's asked entry is a failed read: %v", f)
+			}
+			recs, _ := grants.ListRecords(in)
+			users, err := grants.ComposeUsers(recs)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			var got []string
+			for _, u := range users {
+				if u.User == "a.mod-x" {
+					got = append(got, u.Publish...)
+					got = append(got, u.Subscribe...)
+				}
+			}
+			if !slices.ContainsFunc(got, func(s string) bool { return strings.Contains(s, "kept") }) {
+				t.Errorf("a.mod-x is not granted the trunk manifest's state kept: %v", got)
+			}
+			if row.wantsOld && !slices.ContainsFunc(got, func(s string) bool { return strings.Contains(s, "older") }) {
+				t.Errorf("a.mod-x is not granted its want's entry's state older: %v", got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/catalog.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/catalog.go
index a3527e09..4a067cac 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/catalog.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/catalog.go
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func catalogWaiting(r Reader) string {
 		return ""
 	}
 	slices.Sort(w)
-	return fmt.Sprintf("the first views of the catalog half are not in (%v), so each account is composed from its want's entry by fingerprint and the list in force is kept", w)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("the first views of the catalog half are not in (%v), so each account is composed from the trunk's manifest of its module in union with its want's entry by fingerprint, and the list in force is kept in union", w)
 }
 
 // **The grants part reads the assignment half** (design 46 approval mark §6, design 47 G §195, lead answer A-203): the view of
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
index 7e96a6a4..af15a250 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
@@ -836,7 +836,10 @@ func runningByHaves(r Reader, in *Inputs, cache *Manifests, into map[string]cata
 			if err != nil {
 				if state == meshcatalogclient.EntryAsked {
 					in.HadFailed[node+"."+module] = "the catalog half's entry of " + h.Fp + " is asked"
-					in.Gaps = append(in.Gaps, Gap{Input: "catalog entry " + h.Fp, Why: "asked and not answered yet, so the manifest of the build " + node + "." + module + " runs is unknown: " + err.Error(), Failed: true})
+					// While the catalog half is unread an entry cannot be answered yet: that is no failed read, and the account is composed
+					// from the trunk's manifest of its module (the indexer's `modules` view) in union with what its entry gives, so the list is
+					// not held to the list in force alone (design 47 G, A-363).
+					in.Gaps = append(in.Gaps, Gap{Input: "catalog entry " + h.Fp, Why: "asked and not answered yet, so the manifest of the build " + node + "." + module + " runs is unknown: " + err.Error(), Failed: in.CatalogUnread == ""})
 				}
 				fromTrunk = append(fromTrunk, node+"."+module)
 				continue