diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/control.go b/internal/bootstrap/control.go
index bcade8b..a0c509b 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/control.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/control.go
@@ -311,6 +311,17 @@ func secretsByVariableIn(manifest []byte) (map[string]string, error) {
 	for name, path := range m.OwnSecrets {
 		secretAt[path] = name
 	}
+	// **A file the module itself declares is its own, not a secret** (novox/hq issue 597). The
+	// controller reads its merge window's settings from a file its manifest writes from its settings
+	// (MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE, ADR 0276): the mesh writes it with the module's declaration, and there
+	// is nothing for genesis to carry in. Only a `…_FILE` naming neither an own-secret nor a file of
+	// the module is refused.
+	declared := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if r.Type == "file" && r.Path != "" {
+			declared[r.Path] = true
+		}
+	}
 
 	wanted := map[string]string{}
 	for _, r := range m.Resources {
@@ -333,10 +344,13 @@ func secretsByVariableIn(manifest []byte) (map[string]string, error) {
 					on = from
 				}
 				secret, named := secretAt[on]
+				if !named && declared[on] {
+					continue
+				}
 				if !named {
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf(
-						"the %s module's container reads %s from %s, and no own-secret of that "+
-							"module writes that file.\n"+
+						"the %s module's container reads %s from %s, and neither an own-secret nor "+
+							"a file of that module writes that file.\n"+
 							"So the mesh would seal nothing there and the control plane would find "+
 							"an empty file where a connection string has to be. The manifest has to "+
 							"name the two ends the same, directly or through a mount",
diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/genesis_form_test.go b/internal/bootstrap/genesis_form_test.go
index e009568..b22da3a 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/genesis_form_test.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/genesis_form_test.go
@@ -180,3 +180,85 @@ func TestAProcessFormNamingNoOneReplacementIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// theStepNineSecretsOf is what step 9 delivers for a process-form controller manifest: its genesis
+// container made, pinned, and its secrets read from that container's environment.
+func theStepNineSecretsOf(t *testing.T, manifest []byte) (map[string]string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	form, err := processFormOf(manifest)
+	if err != nil || !form.Found {
+		t.Fatalf("the manifest has no process form: %v", err)
+	}
+	genesis, err := genesisForm(manifest, form, builtImage)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	pinned, _, err := pinImage(genesis, builtImage, "registry.internal:5000/mesh-controller@sha256:"+strings.Repeat("e", 64), ControlPlaneModule)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return secretsByVariableIn(pinned)
+}
+
+// **A file the controller's manifest writes itself is not a secret** (novox/hq issue 597). The merge
+// window's settings reach the controller in a file its manifest declares from its settings
+// (MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE, ADR 0276); genesis refused it as a secret nobody writes, and stopped at
+// step 11 of 24.
+func TestAFileTheControllersManifestWritesIsNotASecret(t *testing.T) {
+	manifest := strings.Replace(processFormManifest,
+		`{"id": "controller", "type": "process",`,
+		`{"id": "merge-window", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:mesh-state}/merge-window.json", "mode": "0600",
+      "owner": "mesh-controller", "content": "{\"merge-window\": \"${setting:merge-window}\"}\n"},
+    {"id": "controller", "type": "process",`, 1)
+	manifest = strings.Replace(manifest, `"MESH_BUS_NATS_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/bus"}`,
+		`"MESH_BUS_NATS_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/bus",
+             "MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/merge-window.json"}`, 1)
+	if !strings.Contains(manifest, "MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE") || !strings.Contains(manifest, `"id": "merge-window"`) {
+		t.Fatal("the fixture was not changed")
+	}
+	wanted, err := theStepNineSecretsOf(t, []byte(manifest))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("step 9 refuses a file the manifest writes itself: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, asked := wanted["MESH_MERGE_WINDOW"]; asked {
+		t.Errorf("the merge window's settings are delivered as a secret: %v", wanted)
+	}
+	if wanted["MESH_STORE_INVENTORY"] != "inventory" || wanted["MESH_BUS_NATS"] != "bus" {
+		t.Errorf("step 9 delivers %v; the store's and the bus's secrets are still wanted", wanted)
+	}
+}
+
+// And a `…_FILE` that neither an own-secret nor a file of the module writes is still refused.
+func TestAFileNothingOfTheControllerWritesIsStillRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	manifest := strings.Replace(processFormManifest, `"MESH_BUS_NATS_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/bus"}`,
+		`"MESH_BUS_NATS_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/bus",
+             "MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE": "${dir:mesh-state}/merge-window.json"}`, 1)
+	if _, err := theStepNineSecretsOf(t, []byte(manifest)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "MESH_MERGE_WINDOW_FILE") {
+		t.Fatalf("a file nothing writes was accepted, or refused without its name: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// The controller's own manifest, as the mesh runs it, passes step 9 (issue 597): in a merge check the
+// node-engine's check has the controller cloned beside it (MESH_CHECK_BESIDE), where it must be; else a
+// checkout beside this one; else it skips aloud.
+func TestTheControllersOwnManifestPassesStepNine(t *testing.T) {
+	var manifest []byte
+	if root := os.Getenv("MESH_CHECK_BESIDE"); root != "" {
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "mesh-controller", "module.json"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("the controller is not beside this check in MESH_CHECK_BESIDE=%s: %v", root, err)
+		}
+		manifest = raw
+	} else if raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "mesh-controller", "module.json")); err == nil {
+		manifest = raw
+	} else {
+		t.Skip("NOT JUDGED: no controller beside this checkout and no MESH_CHECK_BESIDE; the merge check judges it")
+	}
+	wanted, err := theStepNineSecretsOf(t, manifest)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("genesis's step 9 refuses the controller the mesh runs: %v", err)
+	}
+	if wanted["MESH_STORE_INVENTORY"] != "inventory" {
+		t.Errorf("step 9 delivers %v", wanted)
+	}
+}