diff --git a/internal/compose/resolution/resolve_test.go b/internal/compose/resolution/resolve_test.go
index d6f0d4b..7eb06e4 100644
--- a/internal/compose/resolution/resolve_test.go
+++ b/internal/compose/resolution/resolve_test.go
@@ -157,6 +157,18 @@ func TestADirectlyAssignedModuleTheMachineCannotHostIsReportedNotRefused(t *test
 	if !strings.Contains(WrongMachine("xorg", "seat", "server"), "wrong machine") {
 		t.Errorf("the report reads like a missing module")
 	}
+
+	// And a module whose calls only a tool runner stating them answers (ENG-2, issue 1966) is held off a machine whose record
+	// does not say them, naming the capability; on one that does, it is hosted.
+	withCalls := mcat.Node{Name: "server", Capabilities: map[string]bool{"container-runtime": true, "ledger-calls": true}}
+	ledgerOwner := shelf(mod("records", nil, nil, []string{"ledger-calls"}))
+	held, err := Resolve(ledgerOwner, []string{"records"}, server, mcat.World{})
+	if err != nil || len(held.Unhostable) != 1 || len(held.Unhostable[0].Missing) != 1 || held.Unhostable[0].Missing[0] != "ledger-calls" {
+		t.Errorf("a ledger owner on a machine whose runner states no ledger calls: %+v, %v", held.Unhostable, err)
+	}
+	if got, err := Resolve(ledgerOwner, []string{"records"}, withCalls, mcat.World{}); err != nil || len(got.Unhostable) != 0 || len(got.Modules) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("a ledger owner on a machine whose runner states them was held: %v %v", got.Unhostable, err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestAnUnhostableModuleSomethingRequiresRefusesTheNode(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/link/have.go b/internal/link/have.go
index eb13fb0..7f1a2ed 100644
--- a/internal/link/have.go
+++ b/internal/link/have.go
@@ -296,7 +296,9 @@ func (q *Session) noteApply(r Report) bool {
 func (q *Session) nodeFactsWithRecord(r Report, before *delivery.HaveNode) *delivery.HaveNode {
 	n := nodeFacts(r)
 	if q.Keys != nil {
-		n.Record = recordOf(q.Membership.Node, r, q.Keys())
+		keys := q.Keys()
+		keys.Stated = q.runnerStated
+		n.Record = recordOf(q.Membership.Node, r, keys)
 	}
 	if before != nil && before.Record != nil {
 		switch {
diff --git a/internal/link/have_test.go b/internal/link/have_test.go
index 2fc4c41..f0825b2 100644
--- a/internal/link/have_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/have_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
@@ -31,6 +32,15 @@ type haveLink struct {
 	bindFails, bindStuck bool
 	// bindNoResponders fails that many binds with the bus's no responders, as while it reloads its accounts.
 	bindNoResponders int
+	// stated is what the tool runner's PING says of itself (Stater); statedErr is the runner not answering.
+	stated    map[string]string
+	statedErr error
+}
+
+func (l *haveLink) Stated(context.Context, string, string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	l.hmu.Lock()
+	defer l.hmu.Unlock()
+	return l.stated, l.statedErr
 }
 
 type haveEntry struct {
@@ -259,6 +269,7 @@ func TestTheNodeKeyCarriesTheNodesFacts(t *testing.T) {
 	keys := RecordKeys{TunnelKey: "tk", SealingKey: "sk", ServingKey: "pk", Certificate: "cert",
 		Trusts: []string{"controller key sha256:aa", "vault key sha256:bb"}} // and what it trusts (L3 s6, ADR 0550 §2)
 	q.Keys = func() RecordKeys { return keys }
+	l.stated = map[string]string{CapabilitiesKey: "ledger-calls, bus-state-calls"} // the tool runner's calls (ENG-2)
 	rep.Profile = map[string]any{"capabilities": []any{map[string]any{"name": "systemd", "present": true},
 		map[string]any{"name": "docker", "present": false}, map[string]any{"name": "apt", "present": true}},
 		"machine": map[string]any{"networks": []any{map[string]any{"link": "eth0", "network": "192.0.2.0/24"}}}}
@@ -269,7 +280,7 @@ func TestTheNodeKeyCarriesTheNodesFacts(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("the node key holds no record: %+v, %v", got, err)
 	}
 	wantRecord := delivery.NodeRecord{V: delivery.Version, Node: "n1", TunnelKey: "tk", SealingKey: "sk", ServingKey: "pk",
-		Certificate: "cert", Trusts: keys.Trusts, Capabilities: []string{"apt", "systemd"}, OutwardLinks: []string{"eth0"}, NetworksSaid: true,
+		Certificate: "cert", Trusts: keys.Trusts, Capabilities: []string{"apt", "bus-state-calls", "ledger-calls", "systemd"}, OutwardLinks: []string{"eth0"}, NetworksSaid: true,
 		Networks: []catalogue.AttachedNetwork{{Link: "eth0", Network: "192.0.2.0/24"}}, Contract: NodeKeyContract,
 		ManifestReads: catalogue.ManifestReads()} // what it reads of a manifest: its contract's (ADR 0614 §4)
 	if !delivery.SameNodeRecord(*got.Record, wantRecord) {
@@ -280,6 +291,22 @@ func TestTheNodeKeyCarriesTheNodesFacts(t *testing.T) {
 	if l.kv["n1.node"].rev != at {
 		t.Errorf("a report changing nothing wrote the node key again")
 	}
+	// A runner that does not answer states what it stated before; one answering without any states none (an older runner).
+	l.statedErr = fmt.Errorf("%w: nothing answered", ErrNoAnswer)
+	l.stated = nil
+	q.SayFacts(context.Background(), rep)
+	if l.kv["n1.node"].rev != at {
+		t.Errorf("a runner that did not answer changed the record")
+	}
+	l.statedErr, l.stated = nil, map[string]string{}
+	q.SayFacts(context.Background(), rep)
+	if got, _ = delivery.DecodeHaveNode(l.kv["n1.node"].value); l.kv["n1.node"].rev != at+1 || !slices.Equal(got.Record.Capabilities, []string{"apt", "systemd"}) {
+		t.Errorf("a runner stating no calls: revision %d (was %d), capabilities %v", l.kv["n1.node"].rev, at, got.Record.Capabilities)
+	}
+	at++
+	l.stated = map[string]string{CapabilitiesKey: "ledger-calls,bus-state-calls"}
+	q.SayFacts(context.Background(), rep)
+	at++
 	keys.Certificate = "cert-2"
 	q.SayFacts(context.Background(), rep)
 	if got, _ = delivery.DecodeHaveNode(l.kv["n1.node"].value); l.kv["n1.node"].rev != at+1 || got.Record.Certificate != "cert-2" {
diff --git a/internal/link/record.go b/internal/link/record.go
index df204af..740184f 100644
--- a/internal/link/record.go
+++ b/internal/link/record.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package link
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -26,6 +27,9 @@ type RecordKeys struct {
 	Authority string
 	// Trusts is what this machine trusts a mesh signature from now (delivery.Trusts, ADR 0550 §2).
 	Trusts []string
+	// Stated is the capabilities its tool runner states of the calls it answers (CapabilitiesKey), which the record says
+	// beside the machine's own: a module whose manifest asks for one is held off a machine whose runner does not state it.
+	Stated []string
 }
 
 // manifestReads is what this engine reads of a manifest (novox/hq ADR 0614 §4): the reader capabilities of the mesh-sdk it
@@ -60,6 +64,11 @@ func recordOf(node string, r Report, keys RecordKeys) *delivery.NodeRecord {
 			rec.Capabilities = append(rec.Capabilities, c.Name)
 		}
 	}
+	for _, c := range keys.Stated {
+		if c != "" && !slices.Contains(rec.Capabilities, c) {
+			rec.Capabilities = append(rec.Capabilities, c)
+		}
+	}
 	sort.Strings(rec.Capabilities)
 	if p.Machine != nil {
 		rec.NetworksSaid = true
diff --git a/internal/link/session.go b/internal/link/session.go
index 3bcd467..7dd16af 100644
--- a/internal/link/session.go
+++ b/internal/link/session.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -79,6 +80,10 @@ type Session struct {
 	haveAgainPending bool
 	haveAgainTries   int
 
+	// runnerStated is the capabilities this machine's tool runner last stated of the calls it answers (askRunner), said in the
+	// node's record. Held under saying.
+	runnerStated []string
+
 	// saying is held while a facts event is noted, so the haves are written in the order the facts are made.
 	saying sync.Mutex
 
@@ -161,6 +166,7 @@ func (q *Session) SayFacts(ctx context.Context, r Report) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	r.Node = q.Membership.Node
+	q.askRunner(ctx, bus)
 	if q.noteApply(r) {
 		q.writeHaves(ctx, bus)
 	}
@@ -404,3 +410,30 @@ func (q *Session) operatorAsks() (OperatorAsks, error) {
 	}
 	return asking, nil
 }
+
+// runnerAsk bounds the question to the tool runner.
+const runnerAsk = 3 * time.Second
+
+// askRunner reads what this machine's tool runner states of the calls it answers, asked of its own instance with the PING
+// the witness asks (ENG-2, issue 1966), at each report: a runner replaced by a build that states more, or less, is said in
+// the record from the next report. A runner that does not answer states what it stated before, since its absence says
+// nothing of its calls; one that answers without stating any states none, as an older runner does. Called under saying.
+func (q *Session) askRunner(ctx context.Context, bus Bus) {
+	stater, ok := bus.(Stater)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	asking, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, runnerAsk)
+	defer cancel()
+	md, err := stater.Stated(asking, ToolRunnerService, q.Membership.Node)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	var stated []string
+	for _, c := range strings.Split(md[CapabilitiesKey], ",") {
+		if c = strings.TrimSpace(c); c != "" {
+			stated = append(stated, c)
+		}
+	}
+	q.runnerStated = stated
+}
diff --git a/internal/link/witnessing.go b/internal/link/witnessing.go
index ed364d9..14cd1ec 100644
--- a/internal/link/witnessing.go
+++ b/internal/link/witnessing.go
@@ -47,27 +47,50 @@ func (q *Session) Asker() Asker {
 }
 
 func (l *natsLink) Ping(ctx context.Context, service, id string) error {
+	_, err := l.stated(ctx, service, id)
+	return err
+}
+
+// ToolRunnerService is the services-protocol name the tool runner answers discovery under, and CapabilitiesKey the metadata
+// key of its PING it states the capabilities of the calls it answers under, comma-separated (mesh-tools announce).
+const (
+	ToolRunnerService = "node-tools"
+	CapabilitiesKey   = "capabilities"
+)
+
+// Stater is a link that can ask what a service's instance states of itself in its PING: its metadata.
+type Stater interface {
+	Stated(ctx context.Context, service, id string) (map[string]string, error)
+}
+
+// Stated is what the tool runner of this machine states in its PING, asked of its own instance as a witness asks it.
+func (l *natsLink) Stated(ctx context.Context, service, id string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	return l.stated(ctx, service, id)
+}
+
+func (l *natsLink) stated(ctx context.Context, service, id string) (map[string]string, error) {
 	subject := PingSubject(service, id)
 	before := l.conn.LastError()
 	msg, err := l.conn.RequestWithContext(ctx, subject, nil)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoResponders):
 		// The bus delivered the question and nothing subscribes to it: the runtime is not on the bus.
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: no %s on this machine is on the bus", ErrNoAnswer, service)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: no %s on this machine is on the bus", ErrNoAnswer, service)
 	case err != nil:
 		if refused := l.refusal(subject, before); refused != "" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%w: asking %s: %v%s", ErrCannotAsk, subject, err, refused)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: asking %s: %v%s", ErrCannotAsk, subject, err, refused)
 		}
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s did not answer: %v", ErrNoAnswer, subject, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s did not answer: %v", ErrNoAnswer, subject, err)
 	}
 	var ping struct {
-		Name string `json:"name"`
-		ID   string `json:"id"`
+		Name     string            `json:"name"`
+		ID       string            `json:"id"`
+		Metadata map[string]string `json:"metadata"`
 	}
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(msg.Data, &ping); err != nil || ping.Name != service || ping.ID != id {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: what answered %s is not %s %s", ErrNoAnswer, subject, service, id)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: what answered %s is not %s %s", ErrNoAnswer, subject, service, id)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return ping.Metadata, nil
 }
 
 // refusal is the bus's word on this connection when it refused a publish to subject while this question