diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
index 0aec273e..b138b314 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
@@ -2542,6 +2542,42 @@ func TestGrants(t *testing.T) {
 		if !strings.Contains(refused, "manifest of mod-x: it waits for the seat list") {
 			t.Errorf("another module is not held: %v", p.Last().Refused)
 		}
+
+		// Issue 1966: the assignments view unanswered, the indexer placed by its have alone (its real manifest, claiming
+		// mesh-catalog and serving seat-definitions) is composed to serve the seat's verbs, in the list and its membership,
+		// while the seat list stays unread: the bootstrap reaches the verb that reads the list without opening the gate.
+		indexer, err := os.ReadFile("../mesh-delivery-indexer/module.json")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		fb := fixture()
+		fb.refused[grants.ReadAssignments] = true
+		fb.manifestOf("mesh-delivery-indexer", string(indexer))
+		fb.put(grants.ReadHave, "novox.node", map[string]any{"v": 1})
+		fb.put(grants.ReadHave, "novox.mesh-delivery-indexer", nodeengine.HaveByNodeModuleValue{V: keys.Version, Phase: nodeengineclient.PhaseRunning, Health: nodeengineclient.HealthOK})
+		gate := &seatGate{}
+		fp := partOn(fb)
+		fp.SeatList = gate
+		res := fp.Compose()
+		if strings.Contains(strings.Join(res.Refused, "\n"), "manifest of mesh-delivery-indexer:") {
+			t.Fatalf("the indexer is held in a pass placed by the haves: %v", res.Refused)
+		}
+		listRecs, _ := grants.ListRecords(grants.ReadInputs(fb, &grants.Manifests{}))
+		users, err := grants.ComposeUsers(listRecs)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		at := slices.IndexFunc(users, func(u grants.User) bool { return u.User == "novox.mesh-delivery-indexer" })
+		if at < 0 || !slices.ContainsFunc(users[at].Subscribe, func(s string) bool { return strings.HasPrefix(s, "mesh.seat.mesh-catalog.") }) {
+			t.Fatalf("novox.mesh-delivery-indexer is not composed to hear the seat's verbs: %+v", users)
+		}
+		raw := fb.own[grants.StateMemberships]["novox.mesh-delivery-indexer"]
+		if !slices.Contains(res.Published, "novox.mesh-delivery-indexer") || !strings.Contains(string(raw), "seat-definitions") {
+			t.Errorf("the indexer's membership serving seat-definitions was not published: %v, %s", res.Published, raw)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(strings.Join(res.Refused, "\n"), "manifest of mod-x: it waits for the seat list") {
+			t.Errorf("the seat list was opened by a pass placed by the haves: %v", res.Refused)
+		}
 	})
 
 	// DLV-G1, 1966/AC32-AC33 (novox/hq ADR 0595 §1, §7; design 25 § 12.2): the bus module's created writes the binding into