diff --git a/cmd/mesh-host/main.go b/cmd/mesh-host/main.go
index a3d69a0..86be16a 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-host/main.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-host/main.go
@@ -1604,8 +1604,7 @@ func judgeWhatRuns(ctx context.Context, j *liveness.Judge, queue *link.Queue, sa
 		if changed {
 			for _, r := range st.Resources {
 				if r.State == liveness.Unhealthy {
-					say(fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s %s) is unhealthy: %s, %d restart(s) counted", r.ID, r.Kind, r.Target,
-						r.Reason, r.Restarts))
+					say(unhealthyWords(r))
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -2338,3 +2337,11 @@ func factsAsReported(f *store.Facts) map[string]any {
 	}
 	return out
 }
+
+// unhealthyWords is what the engine says of an unhealthy resource. Its restart count is the judge's own
+// (kept.Counted): automatic restarts since it began watching the resource, kept across recreates and starts
+// by hand, so it is said as that and never read as since the state began (novox/hq issue 458).
+func unhealthyWords(r liveness.State) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s %s) is unhealthy: %s, %d automatic restart(s) since this engine began watching it",
+		r.ID, r.Kind, r.Target, r.Reason, r.Restarts)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-host/restarts_words_test.go b/cmd/mesh-host/restarts_words_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfa581e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-host/restarts_words_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/liveness"
+)
+
+// The restart count the engine says is its own since it began watching the resource, never since the state
+// began (novox/hq issue 458).
+func TestAnUnhealthyResourceSaysWhatItsRestartCountCounts(t *testing.T) {
+	r := liveness.State{Resource: liveness.Resource{ID: "messenger.own-runtime", Kind: "process",
+		Target: "messenger-runtime.service"}, State: liveness.Unhealthy, Reason: liveness.ReasonRestarting, Restarts: 3890}
+	said := unhealthyWords(r)
+	if !strings.Contains(said, "3890 automatic restart(s) since this engine began watching it") ||
+		strings.Contains(said, "counted") {
+		t.Fatalf("the restart count is not said as what it counts: %s", said)
+	}
+}