diff --git a/node-tools/internal/provide/provide_test.go b/node-tools/internal/provide/provide_test.go
index 47957c9..413825d 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/provide/provide_test.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/provide/provide_test.go
@@ -206,12 +206,14 @@ func TestTheManifestNamesNothingOfTheController(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	// Read as text, as mesh-catalog's controllerdeps check reads its own: mesh-sdk names no module (issue 774), and the
-	// manifest says it is the tool runner rather than being known by its name.
+	// Read as text, as mesh-catalog's controllerdeps check reads its own: mesh-sdk names no module (issue 774).
 	if strings.Contains(string(raw), "mesh-controller") {
 		t.Error("node-tools' manifest names the ended controller")
 	}
-	if !catalogue.IsToolRunner(m) {
-		t.Error("node-tools' manifest does not say it is the tool runner (\"tool-runner\": true)")
+	// The manifest says nothing of being the tool runner until the indexer whose judge knows the word runs (issue 774):
+	// the running judge refuses a manifest with "tool-runner", and while one manifest is refused the grants part holds
+	// the bus's user list, so the build of the indexer that knows it is never granted. The word comes back then.
+	if catalogue.IsToolRunner(m) {
+		t.Error("node-tools' manifest says \"tool-runner\" before the judge that reads it runs")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/node-tools/module.json b/node-tools/module.json
index 535300f..e6cb6db 100644
--- a/node-tools/module.json
+++ b/node-tools/module.json
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   "module": "node-tools",
   "version": "1",
   "slug": "node-tools",
-  "tool-runner": true,
   "invokes": [
     "*"
   ],