diff --git a/go/asks/asks.go b/go/asks/asks.go
index efe2a66..81737ac 100644
--- a/go/asks/asks.go
+++ b/go/asks/asks.go
@@ -374,8 +374,16 @@ func (w Warrant) For(asker string, a Ask) (Option, error) {
 	if w.Level != o.Level {
 		return Option{}, fmt.Errorf("the option %s is %s, and the warrant says %s", o.ID, o.Level, w.Level)
 	}
-	// A choice made after the ask expired is no answer to it, whatever the router said.
-	if !w.At.IsZero() && w.At.After(a.Expires) {
+	// A choice made after the ask expired is no answer to it, whatever the router said. An ask that says no
+	// expiry, or a warrant that says no time, is no answer either: neither can be shown to be in time (the
+	// confirmation review of 2026-10-09).
+	if a.Expires.IsZero() {
+		return Option{}, fmt.Errorf("the ask %s says no expiry, so no answer to it can be in time", a.ID)
+	}
+	if w.At.IsZero() {
+		return Option{}, fmt.Errorf("the warrant for the ask %s says no time it was given, so it cannot be shown to be in time", a.ID)
+	}
+	if w.At.After(a.Expires) {
 		return Option{}, fmt.Errorf("the warrant was given at %s, after the ask %s expired at %s",
 			w.At.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339), a.ID, a.Expires.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
 	}
diff --git a/go/asks/asks_test.go b/go/asks/asks_test.go
index cfa05a7..999b418 100644
--- a/go/asks/asks_test.go
+++ b/go/asks/asks_test.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func TestAnAskIsRefusedInWordsForEachFault(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAnAskerActsOnlyOnAWarrantForItsOwnAskAndOption(t *testing.T) {
 	w := Warrant{Ask: "d-1", Asker: "mesh-delivery", Outcome: OutcomeChosen, Option: "release", Label: "Release",
 		Level: Approve, By: &Person{Who: Operator, Kind: "telegram", Identity: "42", Verified: "user id verified"},
-		AskDigest: held().Digest()}
+		AskDigest: held().Digest(), At: now.Add(time.Minute)}
 	if o, err := w.For("mesh-delivery", held()); err != nil || o.ID != "release" {
 		t.Fatalf("a sound warrant was refused: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ func TestAnAskerActsOnlyOnAWarrantForItsOwnAskAndOption(t *testing.T) {
 		"a lower level": func(w *Warrant) { w.Level = Acknowledge },
 		"another role":  func(w *Warrant) { w.By = &Person{Who: "agent"} },
 		"no digest":     func(w *Warrant) { w.AskDigest = "" },
+		"no time given": func(w *Warrant) { w.At = time.Time{} },
+		"after expiry":  func(w *Warrant) { w.At = now.Add(2 * time.Hour) },
 		"another ask's digest": func(w *Warrant) {
 			other := held()
 			other.Options[0].Binds = bind("release", "another")
@@ -242,3 +244,16 @@ func TestDigestsAreCanonicalOverNamedFields(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("the expiry's zone changed the digest")
 	}
 }
+
+// An ask that says no expiry is answered by no warrant (the confirmation review of 2026-10-09): nothing could
+// show the answer was in time.
+func TestAWarrantForAnAskWithNoExpiryIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	a := held()
+	a.Expires = time.Time{}
+	w := Warrant{Ask: "d-1", Asker: "mesh-delivery", Outcome: OutcomeChosen, Option: "release", Label: "Release",
+		Level: Approve, By: &Person{Who: Operator, Kind: "telegram", Identity: "42"}, AskDigest: a.Digest(),
+		At: now.Add(time.Minute)}
+	if _, err := w.For("mesh-delivery", a); err == nil {
+		t.Error("a warrant for an ask with no expiry was taken")
+	}
+}