diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
index fe5cd07..03acd28 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/grants_test.go
@@ -414,6 +414,60 @@ func TestGrants(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("a predefined-key fallback is read with no list; every refused manifest listed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// mod-p's value falls back to a predefined key, as claude-code's managed_settings does, and no list is on the bus
+		// (issue 1945); mod-z's manifest carries a key mesh-sdk's reader refuses, and mod-z is assigned nowhere.
+		const pManifest = `{"module":"mod-p","version":"1","own-secrets":{"broker":"/var/lib/p/broker"},` +
+			`"config":{"size":{"type":"number","description":"The size text shows in, in points.","predefined":"font-size","default":12,"runtime":true}}}`
+		const zManifest = `{"module":"mod-z","version":"1","no-such-key":true}`
+		b := fixture()
+		b.manifestOf("mod-p", pManifest)
+		b.manifestOf("mod-z", zManifest)
+		b.assign("b", "mod-p")
+		in := grants.ReadInputs(b, &grants.Manifests{})
+		if len(in.Refused) != 1 || in.Refused[0].Input != "manifest of mod-z" || !gapNamed(in.Gaps, "manifest of mod-z") {
+			t.Errorf("refused = %v: only mod-z's, and named in the gaps", in.Refused)
+		}
+		recs, _ := grants.Records(in)
+		users, err := grants.ComposeUsers(recs)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if !slices.Contains(names(users), "b.mod-p") {
+			t.Errorf("b.mod-p is not composed, so its module counts as placed nowhere: %v", names(users))
+		}
+		// The pass, the tool listing held memberships, and the log each say the refusal.
+		part := partOn(b)
+		res := part.Pass()
+		if len(res.Refused) != 1 || !strings.HasPrefix(res.Refused[0], "manifest of mod-z: ") {
+			t.Errorf("the pass says refused %v", res.Refused)
+		}
+		held, err := part.Held()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if got, _ := held.(map[string]any)["refused"].([]string); len(got) != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("grants_membership lists refused %v", got)
+		}
+		var logged []string
+		var lmu sync.Mutex
+		f := &grants.Follower{Part: partOn(b), Watch: &fakeWatcher{opened: make(chan string, 16)}, Logf: func(format string, args ...any) {
+			lmu.Lock()
+			logged = append(logged, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
+			lmu.Unlock()
+		}}
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		done := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() { f.Run(ctx); close(done) }()
+		waitFor(t, func() bool {
+			lmu.Lock()
+			defer lmu.Unlock()
+			return strings.Contains(strings.Join(logged, "\n"), "refused manifest of mod-z: ")
+		})
+		cancel()
+		<-done
+	})
+
 	t.Run("credentials", func(t *testing.T) {
 		shadow := []grants.User{{User: "a.held"}, {User: "a.new"}, {User: "a.bare"}}
 		loaded := []grants.User{{User: "a.held"}, {User: "a.bare"}, {User: "enrol.x"}, {User: "person.op"}}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/follow.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/follow.go
index a3a6400..2fb7824 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/follow.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/follow.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ type Follower struct {
 	// held and notAsserted are what the last pass held back and could not create, said again only when they change.
 	held        string
 	notAsserted string
+	refusedMans string
 }
 
 func (f *Follower) init() {
@@ -150,6 +151,18 @@ func (f *Follower) open() {
 // the pass could not create, each with why (issue 1790), when the set changes from the last pass's; and every stream it
 // created, one line per module.
 func (f *Follower) said(res Result) {
+	if refused := strings.Join(res.Refused, "\n"); refused != f.refusedMans {
+		f.refusedMans = refused
+		if len(res.Refused) == 0 {
+			f.logf("every manifest the indexer holds is read")
+		} else {
+			f.logf("%d manifests cannot be read, so their modules count as placed nowhere (grants_membership with no node and module lists them):",
+				len(res.Refused))
+			for _, r := range res.Refused {
+				f.logf("refused %s", r)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	if held := strings.Join(res.NotPublished, "\n"); held != f.held {
 		f.held = held
 		if len(res.NotPublished) == 0 {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
index 2a480ed..a281b81 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/inputs.go
@@ -114,7 +114,10 @@ type Inputs struct {
 	Loaded  *delivery.UserListWritten
 	// Hashes are the vault's hashes of the bus accounts, by bus user (ReadAccounts); kept in memory, never written.
 	Hashes map[string]HeldHash
-	Gaps   []Gap
+	// Refused is every manifest the indexer holds that the part cannot read or mesh-sdk's reader refuses, assigned or
+	// not, each with why: its module counts as placed nowhere, so it is said loudly, never passed over (issue 1945).
+	Refused []Gap
+	Gaps    []Gap
 }
 
 // HeldHash is one key of the vault's bus-accounts: the hash, and what it is of. The hash is never said or written by
@@ -168,7 +171,10 @@ func (c *Manifests) get(r Reader, digest string) (catalogue.Manifest, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return catalogue.Manifest{}, err
 	}
-	m, err = catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(v.JSON))
+	// Read for its inputs, as every delivery part reads a manifest (issue 1751): the merge gate judged its config values,
+	// and the part reads its seats, buckets, logs and streams, never a value; so a value falling back to a predefined key
+	// is taken as it declares itself, where ParseManifest refused it with no list and placed its module nowhere (issue 1945).
+	m, err = catalogue.ParseManifestForInputs([]byte(v.JSON))
 	if err != nil {
 		return catalogue.Manifest{}, fmt.Errorf("the manifest %s is refused by mesh-sdk's reader: %w", digest, err)
 	}
@@ -269,17 +275,15 @@ func ReadInputs(r Reader, cache *Manifests) Inputs {
 		if err == nil && v.Manifest == "" {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("the indexer's value names no manifest digest")
 		}
-		if err != nil {
-			if wanted[module] {
-				in.Gaps = append(in.Gaps, Gap{Input: "manifest of " + module, Why: err.Error()})
-			}
-			continue
+		var m catalogue.Manifest
+		if err == nil {
+			m, err = cache.get(r, v.Manifest)
 		}
-		m, err := cache.get(r, v.Manifest)
 		if err != nil {
-			if wanted[module] {
-				in.Gaps = append(in.Gaps, Gap{Input: "manifest of " + module, Why: err.Error()})
-			}
+			// Every manifest, assigned or not: one refused declares no seat, so its holders compose as placed nowhere.
+			g := Gap{Input: "manifest of " + module, Why: err.Error()}
+			in.Refused = append(in.Refused, g)
+			in.Gaps = append(in.Gaps, g)
 			continue
 		}
 		in.Manifests[module] = m
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/part.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/part.go
index b78b602..21533b9 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/part.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/part.go
@@ -96,8 +96,11 @@ type Result struct {
 	AssertionsWritten  int           `json:"assertions_written"`
 	// Asserted is each module whose declared streams this pass created, `<module> at <digest>: created …`, and
 	// NotAsserted each creation refused, `<module> <stream>: <why>` (issue 1790).
-	Asserted            []string `json:"asserted,omitempty"`
-	NotAsserted         []string `json:"not_asserted,omitempty"`
+	Asserted    []string `json:"asserted,omitempty"`
+	NotAsserted []string `json:"not_asserted,omitempty"`
+	// Refused is every manifest the indexer holds that this pass could not read, `manifest of <module>: <why>`: its
+	// module counts as placed nowhere (issue 1945).
+	Refused             []string `json:"refused,omitempty"`
 	Errors              []string `json:"errors,omitempty"`
 	PublishedOrAsserted string   `json:"published_or_asserted"`
 }
@@ -165,6 +168,9 @@ func (p *Part) Compose() Result {
 		p.mu.Unlock()
 	}()
 	in := ReadInputs(p.Read, &p.cache)
+	for _, g := range in.Refused {
+		res.Refused = append(res.Refused, g.Input+": "+g.Why)
+	}
 	recs, left := Records(in)
 	st := UserListState{V: 1, Mode: Shadow, LeftOut: left, Loaded: in.Loaded, BusNode: in.BusNode,
 		Gaps: append(append([]Gap(nil), in.Gaps...), MembershipGaps...), At: p.now()}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/tools.go b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/tools.go
index 7fe78c0..bbc7f2a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/tools.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-grants/internal/grants/tools.go
@@ -116,7 +116,11 @@ func (p *Part) Held() (any, error) {
 		key, why, _ := strings.Cut(n, ": ")
 		out = append(out, held{Membership: key, Why: why})
 	}
-	return map[string]any{"held": out, "count": len(out), "pass": rev, "published": res.Published}, nil
+	refused := res.Refused
+	if refused == nil {
+		refused = []string{}
+	}
+	return map[string]any{"held": out, "count": len(out), "pass": rev, "published": res.Published, "refused": refused}, nil
 }
 
 // Pass composes and keeps the result as the last pass, for the tools to read.