diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
index 879cf595..632eb504 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
@@ -256,6 +256,13 @@ func (k Asker) Wait(ctx context.Context, a buildstep.StepAsk) (buildstep.Step, e
 			if i == 1 {
 				key, why = capKey, "the step of the ask "+a.ID+" never ended"
 			}
+			if d < time.Second { // a key's time to live is at least a second; a bound already past ends at once
+				if d <= time.Millisecond {
+					k.Expiry.Ended(key)
+					return nil
+				}
+				d = time.Second
+			}
 			return k.Bounds.Arm(ctx, key, why, d)
 		}
 		if timers[i] != nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/branchend.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/branchend.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a1cfcf5..00000000
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/branchend.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"context"
-
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
-)
-
-// forgeStream is the forge bridge's stream `forge` as the bus names it, where the builder's durable consumer hears the
-// forge's messages: each wakes a floor whose bridge_tags was silent (design 51 *The floor*). No tagged version is
-// removed on a branch's end, none being made (design 47 G §373).
-const forgeStream = "FORGE"
-
-// forgeWakes hears the forge bridge's stream: every message wakes a floor whose bridge_tags was silent, and is acknowledged.
-type forgeWakes struct {
-	wake func(ctx context.Context)
-	logf func(string, ...any)
-}
-
-func (h *forgeWakes) heard(ctx context.Context, m jetstream.Msg) {
-	if h.wake != nil {
-		h.wake(ctx)
-	}
-	if err := m.Ack(); err != nil {
-		h.logf("acknowledging %s: %v", m.Subject(), err)
-	}
-}