diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/buildagain.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/buildagain.go
index 16e9a1c..8aa6287 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/buildagain.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/buildagain.go
@@ -159,8 +159,14 @@ func (b *Builder) BuildAgain(ctx context.Context, module, fp, why, by string, bo
 	case ended && len(res.Asks) < max(lanes, 0)+boolInt(lanes < 0):
 		// The look ended before every ask was put: say how the key stands, not that it was asked.
 		if v, _, found, err := b.Claimer.Store.Get(ctx, key); err == nil && found {
-			if cur, err := delivery.DecodeBuilderBuild(v); err == nil && cur.State == delivery.BuildFailed {
-				res.Failed = cur.Error
+			if cur, err := delivery.DecodeBuilderBuild(v); err == nil {
+				switch cur.State {
+				case delivery.BuildFailed:
+					res.Failed = cur.Error
+				case delivery.BuildDone:
+				default:
+					res.Pending = fmt.Sprintf("the look ended with the key %s (%s) before every ask was put: its log says why", cur.State, cur.Step)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	case !shut:
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run.go
index 0bd1051..935860b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run.go
@@ -375,21 +375,27 @@ func (b *Builder) consider(ctx context.Context, module string, m delivery.Module
 	}()
 }
 
-// startOnce looks at the module once, for a key the caller has set inflight already (BuildAgain): it never falls into
-// again, so the key is not built a second time, and clears inflight when the look ends.
+// startOnce looks at the module for a key the caller has set inflight already (BuildAgain): the by-hand look runs once, and
+// a look the builder queued for the key meanwhile (again) still runs after it, as consider's loop does.
 func (b *Builder) startOnce(ctx context.Context, key, module string, m delivery.Module) {
 	b.wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer b.wg.Done()
-		defer func() {
-			b.mu.Lock()
-			delete(b.again, key)
-			delete(b.inflight, key)
-			b.mu.Unlock()
-		}()
 		b.sem <- struct{}{}
 		defer func() { <-b.sem }()
-		b.try(ctx, module, m)
+		for {
+			b.try(ctx, module, m)
+			b.mu.Lock()
+			next, more := b.again[key]
+			delete(b.again, key)
+			if !more || ctx.Err() != nil {
+				delete(b.inflight, key)
+				b.mu.Unlock()
+				return
+			}
+			b.mu.Unlock()
+			m = next // a look the builder queued meanwhile is not lost (consider's rule); it is not a second by-hand build
+		}
 	}()
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
index 884f892..481d925 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go
@@ -706,7 +706,11 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 		edit   func(m *delivery.Module)
 		busy   int
 		failed string
+		// during is a look of the builder's own at the module while the by-hand build runs: it still runs afterwards.
+		during bool
 	}{
+		{name: "build again: a look the builder queued during the by-hand build still runs afterwards", again: true, during: true,
+			key: &delivery.BuilderBuild{State: delivery.BuildFailed, Error: "ace: no tun"}},
 		{name: "build again: a key looked at by the builder now is refused, not built twice", again: true, refuse: "is being looked at", busy: 1,
 			key: &delivery.BuilderBuild{State: delivery.BuildFailed, Error: "ace: no tun"}},
 		{name: "build again: a key already asked by hand is refused, its watch kept", again: true, refuse: "is being looked at", busy: 2,
@@ -757,6 +761,11 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 					c.edit(&m)
 				}
 				r.b.init()
+				var stored atomic.Int64
+				if c.during {
+					r.asks.Answer = nil
+					r.b.Stored = func(context.Context, []string) ([]string, error) { stored.Add(1); return nil, nil }
+				}
 				switch c.busy {
 				case 1:
 					r.b.inflight[r.key] = true
@@ -767,6 +776,16 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 				log := &logged{}
 				r.b.Logf = log.logf
 				res := r.b.BuildAgain(context.Background(), "m", fp1, "no tun on ace", "shanks.lead", 2*time.Second)
+				if c.during {
+					// The trunk's modules value arrives while the by-hand build waits for its ask: it is queued, and run after it.
+					r.b.Module(context.Background(), "m", moduleValue(t, "modules/m"))
+					r.asks.End(r.answer(waitForAsks(t, r, 1)[0]))
+					r.b.Wait()
+					if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.State != delivery.BuildDone || res.Revision <= rev || stored.Load() != 1 {
+						t.Fatalf("key %+v, answer %+v, %d asks of the store; want built from the new revision and the queued look run once after it", v, res, stored.Load())
+					}
+					return
+				}
 				r.b.Wait()
 				after := r.st.revs[r.key]
 				if c.refuse != "" {