diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/control.go b/internal/bootstrap/control.go
index e806a44..e484d19 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/control.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/control.go
@@ -334,8 +334,10 @@ func secretsByVariableIn(manifest []byte) (map[string]string, error) {
 		case "container":
 			inside := mountedFrom(r.Volumes)
 			for key, path := range r.Env {
-				if !strings.HasPrefix(key, storeVariablePrefix) ||
-					!strings.HasSuffix(key, storeFileSuffix) {
+				// Any `MESH_…_FILE` naming an own-secret's file, not only the store's: the broker
+				// settings took the same shape once a secret stopped travelling in an env-file
+				// (novox/hq ADR 0086, issue 041).
+				if !strings.HasPrefix(key, "MESH_") || !strings.HasSuffix(key, storeFileSuffix) {
 					continue
 				}
 				on := path
diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/control_test.go b/internal/bootstrap/control_test.go
index 8f5a27d..ca499f2 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/control_test.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/control_test.go
@@ -273,3 +273,28 @@ func TestThePermanentControlPlaneIsAskedTheSameQuestion(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("the module was never registered: %v", runtime.commands)
 	}
 }
+
+// The broker settings take the file shape too (novox/hq ADR 0086): a `MESH_BROKER_…_FILE` pointing
+// at a mounted own-secret is delivered as that secret, exactly as a store connection is.
+func TestABrokerSettingReadFromAFileIsDeliveredToo(t *testing.T) {
+	manifest := `{
+	  "module": "mesh-controller", "version": "1",
+	  "own-secrets": {"broker": "/var/lib/mesh/mesh-controller/broker", "inventory": "/var/lib/mesh/mesh-controller/inventory"},
+	  "resources": [{
+	    "id": "server", "type": "container", "name": "mesh-controller", "image": "x@sha256:0",
+	    "volumes": ["/var/lib/mesh/mesh-controller/broker:/run/secrets/broker:ro",
+	                "/var/lib/mesh/mesh-controller/inventory:/run/secrets/inventory:ro"],
+	    "env": {"MESH_BROKER_AMQP_FILE": "/run/secrets/broker", "MESH_STORE_INVENTORY_FILE": "/run/secrets/inventory",
+	            "MESH_BROKER_CERTIFICATE": "/broker-tls/tls.crt"}
+	  }]}`
+	wanted, err := secretsByVariableIn([]byte(manifest))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if wanted["MESH_BROKER_AMQP"] != "broker" || wanted["MESH_STORE_INVENTORY"] != "inventory" {
+		t.Fatalf("wanted %v", wanted)
+	}
+	if _, has := wanted["MESH_BROKER_CERTIFICATE"]; has {
+		t.Fatal("a plain path variable was taken for a secret")
+	}
+}