diff --git a/go/delivery/buildrun/asks_test.go b/go/delivery/buildrun/asks_test.go
index f5ea8c3..0f8540a 100644
--- a/go/delivery/buildrun/asks_test.go
+++ b/go/delivery/buildrun/asks_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package buildrun
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/health"
 )
 
 func goAsk(id string) delivery.StepAsk {
@@ -106,6 +108,18 @@ func TestAnAskerPutsOnceAndReadsTheStep(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil || !IsLost(step) {
 		t.Fatalf("an ask heard given up after the hearing came back: %+v, %v", step, err)
 	}
+	for _, row := range []struct {
+		h    *Hearing
+		want string
+	}{{nil, health.StateUnhealthy}, {&told[0], health.StateUnhealthy}, {&told[1], health.StateHealthy}} {
+		var raw []byte
+		if row.h != nil {
+			raw, _ = json.Marshal(row.h)
+		}
+		if a := HearingHealth(raw); a.State != row.want || a.Why == "" {
+			t.Errorf("health of %+v = %+v, want %s", row.h, a, row.want)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // Review (issue 734 path): an ask taken again by the same node (its build module replaced mid-run) is bounded from the
diff --git a/go/delivery/buildrun/lostask.go b/go/delivery/buildrun/lostask.go
index 1e70245..90a9ece 100644
--- a/go/delivery/buildrun/lostask.go
+++ b/go/delivery/buildrun/lostask.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package buildrun
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/health"
 )
 
 // **An ask the build seat gave up on ends its step** (novox/hq issue 734). A build seat's worker offers an ask
@@ -451,3 +453,43 @@ func (h *DeadLetterHearing) tell() {
 		h.said(now)
 	}
 }
+
+// HearingState is the name of the state an asker keeps its Hearing in (`<module>_hearing`, key HearingKey), which its
+// health tool reads.
+const HearingState = "hearing"
+
+// SayHearing is a DeadLetterHearing's said that keeps each Hearing in kv under HearingKey; nil kv keeps nothing and
+// says so once.
+func SayHearing(ctx context.Context, kv jetstream.KeyValue, logf func(string, ...any)) func(Hearing) {
+	if kv == nil {
+		if logf != nil {
+			logf("whether %s is heard is not kept: the state %s is not there, so the health tool cannot say it", DeadLettersStream, HearingState)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	return func(h Hearing) {
+		data, err := json.Marshal(h)
+		if err == nil {
+			_, err = kv.Put(ctx, HearingKey, data)
+		}
+		if err != nil && logf != nil {
+			logf("whether %s is heard could not be kept: %v", DeadLettersStream, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// HearingHealth is the health answer of an asker's kept Hearing (raw, empty when none is kept): healthy while it hears
+// DEAD_LETTERS, unhealthy saying why while it does not or has not said.
+func HearingHealth(raw []byte) health.Answer {
+	if len(raw) == 0 {
+		return health.Unhealthy("it has not said whether it hears " + DeadLettersStream + " (issue 734): it is starting, or its state " + HearingState + " is not there")
+	}
+	var h Hearing
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &h); err != nil {
+		return health.Unhealthy("what it keeps of hearing " + DeadLettersStream + " is not a hearing: " + err.Error())
+	}
+	if !h.Heard {
+		return health.Unhealthy(h.Why + " (since " + h.At.Format(time.RFC3339) + "; tried again at its next reconnect or ask)")
+	}
+	return health.Healthy("it hears " + DeadLettersStream + " for " + strings.Join(h.Streams, ", "))
+}