diff --git a/internal/compose/frombus/frombus.go b/internal/compose/frombus/frombus.go
index f063f49..164baf2 100644
--- a/internal/compose/frombus/frombus.go
+++ b/internal/compose/frombus/frombus.go
@@ -571,6 +571,42 @@ func Compose(ctx context.Context, r Reader, mesh Mesh, s Scope, fps map[string]s
 	return out, skipped, held, err
 }
 
+// ComposingInput is the input the scope's node composes itself from at the builds fps, as Compose reads it (the same read,
+// the refusals it holds), with how Compose composes from it (compose.Input.ComposedHow): what a node-engine sends a
+// check's sandbox, so the sandbox composes the node through ComposeSent, the path Compose takes (issue 774). Read no
+// credential: the sandbox composes no pair value.
+func ComposingInput(ctx context.Context, r Reader, mesh Mesh, s Scope, fps map[string]string) (compose.Input, error) {
+	held := map[string]string{}
+	in, err := input(ctx, r, mesh, s, func(module string, err error) { held[module] = err.Error() }, fps)
+	if err != nil {
+		return compose.Input{}, err
+	}
+	c := &compose.ComposedHow{Node: s.Node, Builds: maps.Clone(fps), Held: held}
+	for _, run := range s.Running {
+		if _, isHeld := held[run.Module]; isHeld && run.Module != "" {
+			c.Running = append(c.Running, run)
+		}
+	}
+	in.ComposedHow = c
+	return in, nil
+}
+
+// ComposeSent composes node from an input ComposingInput read, through the path Compose takes (composeEach, the read's holds
+// first): what a check's sandbox runs. False when the input says no way of composing node (an input from a node-engine
+// before ComposedHow): the caller cannot compose it as the node does.
+func ComposeSent(in compose.Input, node string) (map[string]delivery.Composed, bool, error) {
+	c := in.ComposedHow
+	if c == nil || c.Node != node {
+		return nil, false, nil
+	}
+	held := maps.Clone(c.Held)
+	if held == nil {
+		held = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	out, _, _, err := composeEach(in, node, c.Builds, false, c.Running, held, nil)
+	return out, true, err
+}
+
 // Plans is the provisioning plan of each module handed to the provisioner on the scope's node, composed from the bus
 // alone (novox/hq ADR 0570 clause 2): the controller's handedPlans over the same input (mesh-control
 // cmd/mesh-controller/compose_sdk.go), its rendering in the Foreseeing mode with the mesh's generators. A plan names
diff --git a/internal/compose/input.go b/internal/compose/input.go
index 72aecf7..4471e5e 100644
--- a/internal/compose/input.go
+++ b/internal/compose/input.go
@@ -73,6 +73,13 @@ type Input struct {
 	// issue 1126, C6). Used only while OperatorExport is nil.
 	KeptRuns map[string]map[string]map[string]any
 
+	// ComposedHow is how the node-engine that read this input composes its node from it (frombus.Compose): the builds
+	// it composes each module at, the modules it holds and what runs of each held one. A node-engine answers it with the
+	// input it sends a check's sandbox (composer.SentInput), so the sandbox composes the node through the same path, a
+	// module folded in the node's own composition kept as it runs rather than resolved from its manifest (issue 774, the
+	// check of the bus want: novox's nats). Nil from every other reader and from a node-engine before it.
+	ComposedHow *ComposedHow
+
 	// Issued is the credentials made for the consumers of each provider (inv.SecretsFrom): one row for each pair credential
 	// that exists, by the provider node it is for. The grants a provider must create are read from these, so a credential not
 	// made yet has no grant until the send that makes it. An assigner fills it from the facts snapshot's Grants of each
@@ -231,6 +238,19 @@ type Node struct {
 	RunsTools map[string][]catalogue.Bundle
 }
 
+// ComposedHow is how a node-engine composes its node from an Input (Input.ComposedHow).
+type ComposedHow struct {
+	// Node is the node composed.
+	Node string
+	// Builds is the build each module is composed at, by module: a module the node runs folded in its own composition
+	// at a build of the old form has none, and is composed there as it runs (Node.InOwn, Node.RunsOwn).
+	Builds map[string]string
+	// Held is each module the read held, with why: composed as what runs of it, and the rest without it.
+	Held map[string]string
+	// Running is what runs of each held module, its own composition, by which it is carried as it runs.
+	Running []delivery.Composed
+}
+
 // Place is where a node is, as its placement says (inv.Overlay).
 type Place struct {
 	Key      string
diff --git a/internal/composer/composer.go b/internal/composer/composer.go
index 9204bc1..92961f1 100644
--- a/internal/composer/composer.go
+++ b/internal/composer/composer.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/composer"
@@ -205,8 +206,25 @@ func machine(in compose.Input, node, depth string, declarations bool) Machine {
 		}
 		return Machine{Composes: true}
 	}
+	// Composed as the node-engine composes it, when its input says how (compose.Input.ComposedHow, issue 774): the same
+	// path, at the same builds, a module folded in its own composition kept as it runs.
+	if !declarations {
+		if _, how, err := frombus.ComposeSent(in, node); how {
+			if err != nil {
+				return Machine{Reason: err.Error()}
+			}
+			return Machine{Composes: true}
+		}
+	}
 	d, problems, err := compose.Compose(in, node)
 	if err != nil {
+		// An input from a node-engine before ComposedHow says nothing of what runs of the modules folded in the node's
+		// own composition: the sandbox cannot compose them as the node does, so it does not judge the node, and names
+		// it (ADR 0593 §9), never a failure of the change and never a silent pass.
+		if folded := foldedUnsaid(in, node); len(folded) > 0 && in.ComposedHow == nil {
+			return Machine{Composes: true, Reason: NotJudged + strings.Join(folded, ", ") +
+				" (its own composition carries them as they run, and the sandbox cannot): " + err.Error()}
+		}
 		return Machine{Reason: err.Error()}
 	}
 	m := Machine{Composes: len(problems) == 0, Problems: problems, Refusals: d.Refusals()}
@@ -219,6 +237,32 @@ func machine(in compose.Input, node, depth string, declarations bool) Machine {
 	return m
 }
 
+// NotJudged opens the reason of a machine the sandbox does not judge: its node-engine sent an input that does not say
+// how it composes (compose.Input.ComposedHow), and the node runs modules folded in its own composition.
+const NotJudged = "not judged: its node-engine sends no running state for "
+
+// foldedUnsaid is each module node runs folded in its own composition (Node.InOwn) whose manifest names a build: what
+// the node composes as it runs, and an input without ComposedHow cannot.
+func foldedUnsaid(in compose.Input, node string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, n := range in.Nodes {
+		if n.Name != node {
+			continue
+		}
+		for m, ok := range n.InOwn {
+			man, known := n.Kept[m]
+			if !known {
+				man, known = in.Catalogue[m]
+			}
+			if ok && known && compose.NamesBuild(man) {
+				out = append(out, m)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(out)
+	return out
+}
+
 // pathsOf is every resource of a declaration that names a path, with its owner, group and mode as declared, sorted by
 // path.
 func pathsOf(d compose.Declared) []Path {
diff --git a/internal/composer/composer_test.go b/internal/composer/composer_test.go
index 281c310..991b0ba 100644
--- a/internal/composer/composer_test.go
+++ b/internal/composer/composer_test.go
@@ -108,6 +108,42 @@ func TestARequestItCannotRunIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("the sandbox composed n1 %+v; the bus reader declared %+v", got, want)
 		}
 	})
+	// Issue 774 (the check of the bus want, the third of a kind: the sandbox's input differs from what the bus reader
+	// composes): a node like the bus node, its bus module folded in its own composition at a build of the old form and no
+	// build published for the module's server artifact, composes in the sandbox as its node-engine composes it, from the
+	// input that says how (compose.Input.ComposedHow); from an older engine's input, which does not, it is named not
+	// judged, never failed and never passed in silence.
+	t.Run("a module folded in the node's own composition", func(t *testing.T) {
+		bus := `{"module": "bus", "version": "1", "claims": [{"name": "node-files"}], ` +
+			`"resources": [{"id": "server", "type": "container", "name": "bus-server", "artifact": "server"}], ` +
+			`"build": {"artifacts": [{"name": "server", "kind": "upstream", "from": "nats:2.11@sha256:` + strings.Repeat("a", 64) + `"}]}}`
+		man, err := catalogue.Decode([]byte(bus))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		node := compose.Node{Name: "a", Assigned: []string{"bus"}, InOwn: map[string]bool{"bus": true},
+			RunsOwn: &delivery.Composed{Node: "a"}}
+		in := compose.Input{Catalogue: map[string]catalogue.Manifest{"bus": man}, Nodes: []compose.Node{node}}
+		request := func(in compose.Input) Request {
+			return withInput(t, Request{V: Version, Machines: []string{"a"}, Depth: DepthCompose,
+				Cases: []Case{{Name: "change", Manifests: map[string]Manifest{}}}}, in)
+		}
+		older, err := Run(request(in))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if m := older.Cases[0].Machines["a"]; !m.Composes || !strings.HasPrefix(m.Reason, NotJudged+"bus") {
+			t.Errorf("an older engine's input of a node with a folded module: %+v", m)
+		}
+		in.ComposedHow = &compose.ComposedHow{Node: "a", Builds: map[string]string{}}
+		sent, err := Run(request(in))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if m := sent.Cases[0].Machines["a"]; !m.Composes || m.Reason != "" {
+			t.Errorf("the input that says how the node composes, its bus folded: %+v", m)
+		}
+	})
 	v, err := Run(Request{V: Version, Cases: []Case{{Name: "only-read", Manifests: map[string]Manifest{"demo": {Raw: json.RawMessage(demo)}}}}})
 	if err != nil || len(v.Cases) != 1 || !v.Cases[0].Manifests["demo"].Accepted || v.Cases[0].Machines != nil || v.SDK == "" {
 		t.Fatalf("a request with no machines: %+v, %v", v, err)
diff --git a/internal/selfcompose/candidate.go b/internal/selfcompose/candidate.go
index 9d8b091..4e00674 100644
--- a/internal/selfcompose/candidate.go
+++ b/internal/selfcompose/candidate.go
@@ -181,11 +181,13 @@ func (s *Shadow) composeCandidate(ctx context.Context, c *Composer, ask delivery
 	if err != nil {
 		return unready(err.Error())
 	}
-	laidComps, laidHeld, laidErr := laid.composeShadow(ctx, running, touched, func(scope frombus.Scope) {
+	laidComps, laidHeld, laidErr := laid.composeShadow(ctx, running, touched, func(scope frombus.Scope, fps map[string]string) {
 		if !ask.Input {
 			return
 		}
-		in, err := frombus.Input(ctx, reader{c: laid}, laid.env.Mesh, scope)
+		// Read as the composition reads it, at the builds it composes at, with how it composes (compose.Input.ComposedHow),
+		// so the sandbox composes this node through the same path (issue 774).
+		in, err := frombus.ComposingInput(ctx, reader{c: laid}, laid.env.Mesh, scope, fps)
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
@@ -411,7 +413,7 @@ func (c *Composer) layCandidate(ctx context.Context, cand delivery.Candidate) (m
 // composeShadow composes this node from what c holds, as the shadow composes it (shadowBuilds): each module at the build
 // it runs, one placed and not run at the indexer's, and one the candidate laid (laid) at the candidate's. input, when
 // given, is handed the scope.
-func (c *Composer) composeShadow(ctx context.Context, running []delivery.Composed, laid map[string]bool, input func(frombus.Scope)) (map[string]delivery.Composed, map[string]string, error) {
+func (c *Composer) composeShadow(ctx context.Context, running []delivery.Composed, laid map[string]bool, input func(frombus.Scope, map[string]string)) (map[string]delivery.Composed, map[string]string, error) {
 	node := c.env.Node
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	placement, placed := c.placements[node]
@@ -444,7 +446,7 @@ func (c *Composer) composeShadow(ctx context.Context, running []delivery.Compose
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 	scope := frombus.Scope{Node: node, KeptAt: kept, InOwn: inOwn, Running: running, SameValue: c.sameValue}
 	if input != nil {
-		input(scope)
+		input(scope, fps)
 	}
 	comps, _, held, err := frombus.Compose(ctx, reader{c: c}, c.env.Mesh, scope, fps)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/selfcompose/candidate_test.go b/internal/selfcompose/candidate_test.go
index 2efbfbb..ea78e81 100644
--- a/internal/selfcompose/candidate_test.go
+++ b/internal/selfcompose/candidate_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package selfcompose
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/agent"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/compose"
 )
 
 // novox/hq ADR 0593 §7: the verb compose-candidate composes a check's candidate on this node in shadow. A candidate that
@@ -105,6 +107,14 @@ func TestTheNodeComposesACandidateOnAsk(t *testing.T) {
 		a.Own.Module != delivery.HaveNodeWord || a.Took > delivery.ComposeAnswerBound.Milliseconds() {
 		t.Errorf("an accepted candidate answered %+v", a)
 	}
+	// Issue 774: the input it sends the sandbox says how it composed the node (the builds), so the sandbox composes it
+	// through the same path.
+	sent := s.ComposeCandidate(ctx, delivery.ComposeCandidateAsk{Candidate: accepted, Input: true})
+	var in compose.Input
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(sent.Input, &in); err != nil || in.ComposedHow == nil || in.ComposedHow.Node != "n1" ||
+		in.ComposedHow.Builds["lemurs"] != fpNew {
+		t.Errorf("the input sent for the sandbox does not say how the node composes: %+v, %v", in.ComposedHow, err)
+	}
 	r := s.ComposeCandidate(ctx, delivery.ComposeCandidateAsk{Candidate: refusedKey})
 	if r.Verdict != delivery.ComposeCandidateRefused || len(r.Modules) != 1 || r.Modules[0].State != delivery.ModuleRefusedState ||
 		!strings.Contains(r.Modules[0].Words, "a field the judge refuses") {