diff --git a/merge-check.sh b/merge-check.sh
index de57f12..873b60a 100644
--- a/merge-check.sh
+++ b/merge-check.sh
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ if ! command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1 || [ ! -d node_modules/@novox/mesh-sdk ]; t
 	echo "NOT TESTED HERE: internal/runtime and internal/console launch bundles that need node and @novox/mesh-sdk"
 	packages=$(printf '%s\n' "$packages" | grep -v -e '/internal/runtime$' -e '/internal/console$')
 	# What of the console launches no bundle runs anyway: how an address resolves (novox/hq issue 287),
-	# and how a search ranks (novox/hq ADR 0245).
-	bundleless='^(TestASeatAndAModuleOfOneNameAreEachReached|TestSearch.*|TestASearchByCommandSaysWhatItReplaces)$'
+	# and how a search ranks (novox/hq ADR 0245), and what discovery heard and how a round that heard nothing is
+	# answered (novox/hq issue 554).
+	bundleless='^(TestASeatAndAModuleOfOneNameAreEachReached|TestSearch.*|TestASearchByCommandSaysWhatItReplaces|TestARuntimeThatAnswersLateIsFoundAndOneThatNeverDoesIsNamed|TestARuntimeHeardBeforeAndNotNowIsNamed|TestACallAfterARoundThatHeardNothingUsesWhatWasHeardBefore|TestAnAddressKnownOnlyFromAnEarlierAnswerSaysHowOld)$'
 	# And what of the runtime launches no bundle: how a bundle's seat traffic reaches the bus, what its
 	# environment holds, what a runtime on a module's own account serves (novox/hq ADR 0259), and that a write
 	# by compare-and-set loses no update under contention (novox/hq research 042), and a module's log verbs
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/announce/announce.go b/node-tools/internal/announce/announce.go
index f013cad..6c941ea 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/announce/announce.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/announce/announce.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 package announce
 
 import (
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -35,6 +37,12 @@ var Window = 750 * time.Millisecond
 // serves is waited for until it arrives or this passes, and a service that never sends it is named.
 var Patience = 5 * time.Second
 
+// Digest is the PING answer's metadata key for a digest of what the instance serves now: a console
+// that holds the answer of that digest does not ask for it again (novox/hq issue 554). Every round
+// pulled every runtime's whole announcement — some 880 kB, every five seconds while a session works —
+// to the laptop, and the hundred-byte PING answers queued behind it.
+const Digest = "digest"
+
 // Shortened is the service metadata key a runtime sets when its announcement was cut to fit the bus.
 const Shortened = "shortened"
 
@@ -157,7 +165,14 @@ func Serve(conn *bus.Conn, s Service, current func() []Endpoint) (func(), error)
 		var v any
 		switch parts[1] {
 		case "PING":
-			v = micro.Ping{ServiceIdentity: s.identity(), Type: micro.PingResponseType}
+			id := s.identity()
+			md := map[string]string{}
+			for k, v := range id.Metadata {
+				md[k] = v
+			}
+			md[Digest] = DigestOf(Info(s, current()))
+			id.Metadata = md
+			v = micro.Ping{ServiceIdentity: id, Type: micro.PingResponseType}
 		case "INFO":
 			v = Info(s, current())
 		case "STATS":
@@ -205,6 +220,16 @@ func Serve(conn *bus.Conn, s Service, current func() []Endpoint) (func(), error)
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// DigestOf is a digest of an info_response: equal for equal announcements, whatever the moment.
+func DigestOf(i micro.Info) string {
+	body, err := json.Marshal(i)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(body)
+	return hex.EncodeToString(sum[:12])
+}
+
 // shorten is an info_response cut to fit the bus: descriptions to their first line, then none, the
 // service's metadata saying which (so discovery can tell a person what it was given).
 func shorten(logf func(string, ...any), info micro.Info, body []byte, limit int64) []byte {
@@ -244,6 +269,11 @@ type Heard struct {
 	Took      time.Duration
 	Bytes     int
 	Shortened string // why its descriptions are not whole, or ""
+	// Digest is the digest its PING gave for this answer, or "" when it gave none.
+	Digest string
+	// Reused is true when the instance's PING said it serves what the console already held, so its
+	// announcement was not asked for again; Took is then how long its PING took.
+	Reused bool
 }
 
 // Machine is the machine an instance runs on: its metadata's, or the one its endpoints name.
@@ -273,12 +303,24 @@ type Discovery struct {
 	Waited time.Duration
 	Heard  []Heard
 	Silent []Instance
+	// Pinged is how many PING answers arrived.
+	Pinged int
 }
 
-// Gather asks every service on the bus who it is and what it serves, and waits at least the window
-// and at most the patience: until every instance that answered PING has answered INFO. An answer
+// Empty is a round in which nothing arrived at all, not even a PING: no answer about the mesh, but a
+// round that failed (novox/hq issue 554).
+func (d Discovery) Empty() bool { return d.Pinged == 0 && len(d.Heard) == 0 }
+
+// Known is the announcement a console already holds for an instance at this digest, if any.
+type Known func(name, id, digest string) (Heard, bool)
+
+// Gather asks every service on the bus who it is (`$SRV.PING`), and each instance that answers what it
+// serves (`$SRV.INFO.<name>.<id>`) unless its PING's digest is one `known` holds; it waits at least the
+// window and at most the patience: until at least one instance answered PING and every instance that
+// did has said what it serves. A round in which no PING arrives within the window is not taken as the
+// mesh's answer that nothing is there (novox/hq issue 554): it waits on, up to the patience. An answer
 // that is not the protocol's is skipped.
-func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
+func Gather(conn *bus.Conn, known Known) (Discovery, error) {
 	start := time.Now()
 	d := Discovery{At: start.UTC()}
 	pings, stopPings, err := conn.Collect("$SRV.PING", nil)
@@ -286,7 +328,7 @@ func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
 		return d, err
 	}
 	defer stopPings()
-	infos, stopInfos, err := conn.Collect("$SRV.INFO", nil)
+	infos, askInfo, stopInfos, err := conn.Collector("$SRV.INFO")
 	if err != nil {
 		return d, err
 	}
@@ -296,8 +338,14 @@ func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
 	pinged := map[key]int{}
 	answered := map[key]int{}
 	where := map[key]string{}
+	digest := map[key]string{}
+	asked := map[key]bool{}
+	reused := map[key]int{} // index in d.Heard of an answer held already
 	var order []key
 	complete := func() bool {
+		if len(pinged) == 0 {
+			return false // nobody said they are there: not an answer, a round that has not arrived
+		}
 		for k, n := range pinged {
 			if answered[k] < n {
 				return false
@@ -305,6 +353,15 @@ func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
 		}
 		return true
 	}
+	ask := func(k key) {
+		if asked[k] {
+			return
+		}
+		asked[k] = true
+		if err := askInfo("$SRV.INFO."+k.name+"."+k.id, nil); err != nil {
+			conn.Logf("[mesh-tools] discovery could not ask %s/%s what it serves: %v", k.name, k.id, err)
+		}
+	}
 	least := time.NewTimer(Window)
 	defer least.Stop()
 	most := time.NewTimer(Patience)
@@ -317,21 +374,49 @@ func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
 			if json.Unmarshal(a.Data, &p) != nil || p.Type != micro.PingResponseType {
 				continue
 			}
+			d.Pinged++
 			k := key{p.Name, p.ID}
-			if _, seen := pinged[k]; !seen {
+			_, seen := pinged[k]
+			if !seen {
 				order = append(order, k)
 			}
 			pinged[k]++
 			if where[k] == "" {
 				where[k] = p.Metadata["node"]
 			}
+			if seen {
+				// Two instances under one name and id: what each serves is asked of both, never assumed.
+				if i, ok := reused[k]; ok {
+					d.Heard = append(d.Heard[:i], d.Heard[i+1:]...)
+					for kk, j := range reused {
+						if j > i {
+							reused[kk] = j - 1
+						}
+					}
+					delete(reused, k)
+					answered[k]--
+				}
+				ask(k)
+				continue
+			}
+			digest[k] = p.Metadata[Digest]
+			if h, ok := heldAt(known, k.name, k.id, digest[k]); ok {
+				h.Took, h.Reused, h.Digest = a.At.Sub(start), true, digest[k]
+				reused[k] = len(d.Heard)
+				d.Heard = append(d.Heard, h)
+				answered[k]++
+				break
+			}
+			ask(k)
 		case a := <-infos:
 			var i micro.Info
 			if json.Unmarshal(a.Data, &i) != nil || i.Type != micro.InfoResponseType {
 				continue
 			}
-			answered[key{i.Name, i.ID}]++
-			d.Heard = append(d.Heard, Heard{Info: i, Took: a.At.Sub(start), Bytes: len(a.Data), Shortened: i.Metadata[Shortened]})
+			k := key{i.Name, i.ID}
+			answered[k]++
+			d.Heard = append(d.Heard, Heard{Info: i, Took: a.At.Sub(start), Bytes: len(a.Data), Shortened: i.Metadata[Shortened],
+				Digest: digest[k]})
 		case <-least.C:
 			windowOver = true
 		case <-most.C:
@@ -350,6 +435,14 @@ func Gather(conn *bus.Conn) (Discovery, error) {
 	}
 }
 
+// heldAt is the answer `known` holds for an instance at this digest; never for a PING without one.
+func heldAt(known Known, name, id, digest string) (Heard, bool) {
+	if known == nil || digest == "" {
+		return Heard{}, false
+	}
+	return known(name, id, digest)
+}
+
 // Endpoints reads an info_response's endpoints back into what they announce.
 func Endpoints(i micro.Info) []Endpoint {
 	var out []Endpoint
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/announce/empty_round_test.go b/node-tools/internal/announce/empty_round_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a62780
--- /dev/null
+++ b/node-tools/internal/announce/empty_round_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+package announce
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/micro"
+)
+
+// novox/hq issue 554: the laptop's console took a round in which not even a PING arrived within the
+// 750 ms window as the mesh's answer that nothing is there, and refused every seat and module call. A
+// PING that arrives after the window is waited for, up to the patience.
+func TestARoundWaitsForAPingThatArrivesAfterTheWindow(t *testing.T) {
+	was := Patience
+	Patience = 2500 * time.Millisecond
+	t.Cleanup(func() { Patience = was })
+
+	late := connect(t, "node-tools", "laptop")
+	s := Service{Name: "node-tools", ID: "laptop", Metadata: map[string]string{"node": "laptop"}}
+	ping, _ := json.Marshal(micro.Ping{ServiceIdentity: s.identity(), Type: micro.PingResponseType})
+	stop, err := late.Raw("$SRV.PING", func(string, []byte) []byte { time.Sleep(Window + 300*time.Millisecond); return ping })
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(stop)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(Info(s, []Endpoint{{Kind: KindTool, Module: "slack", Tool: "slack_check", Node: "laptop", Subject: "mesh.mod.slack.tool.slack_check.laptop"}}))
+	for _, subject := range []string{"$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.node-tools.laptop"} {
+		stop, err := late.Raw(subject, func(string, []byte) []byte { return body })
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		t.Cleanup(stop)
+	}
+	late.Flush()
+
+	d, err := Gather(connect(t, "console", "laptop"), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if d.Empty() || len(d.Heard) != 1 || d.Heard[0].Machine() != "laptop" {
+		t.Fatalf("a PING after the window was not waited for: waited %s, pinged %d, heard %+v", d.Waited, d.Pinged, d.Heard)
+	}
+	if d.Waited < Window || d.Waited >= Patience {
+		t.Errorf("waited %s; the PING came after %s and patience is %s", d.Waited, Window+300*time.Millisecond, Patience)
+	}
+}
+
+// A round in which nothing at all arrives is said to be empty, after the patience — not answered as an
+// empty mesh at the window.
+func TestARoundThatHearsNothingIsEmptyAfterThePatience(t *testing.T) {
+	was := Patience
+	Patience = 1500 * time.Millisecond
+	t.Cleanup(func() { Patience = was })
+	d, err := Gather(connect(t, "console", "laptop"), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !d.Empty() || d.Waited < Patience {
+		t.Errorf("empty %v after %s (patience %s)", d.Empty(), d.Waited, Patience)
+	}
+}
+
+// What a runtime announces is fetched again only when its PING's digest changed: every round pulled
+// some 880 kB of announcements to the laptop, and the PING answers queued behind them (issue 554).
+func TestAnUnchangedAnnouncementIsNotFetchedAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	runtime := connect(t, "node-tools", "desk")
+	var endpoints atomic.Value
+	endpoints.Store([]Endpoint{{Kind: KindTool, Module: "alpha", Tool: "one", Node: "desk", Subject: "mesh.mod.alpha.tool.one.desk"}})
+	stop, err := Serve(runtime, Service{Name: "node-tools", ID: "desk", Metadata: map[string]string{"node": "desk"}},
+		func() []Endpoint { return endpoints.Load().([]Endpoint) })
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(stop)
+	runtime.Flush()
+	// Every request for what desk serves, counted where it is answered.
+	var asked atomic.Int32
+	spy := connect(t, "node-tools", "spy")
+	for _, subject := range []string{"$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.node-tools", "$SRV.INFO.node-tools.desk"} {
+		stop, err := spy.Raw(subject, func(string, []byte) []byte { asked.Add(1); return nil })
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		t.Cleanup(stop)
+	}
+	spy.Flush()
+
+	console := connect(t, "console", "laptop")
+	first, err := Gather(console, nil)
+	if err != nil || len(first.Heard) != 1 || first.Heard[0].Digest == "" || first.Heard[0].Reused {
+		t.Fatalf("first round: %v %+v", err, first.Heard)
+	}
+	if asked.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("the first round asked what desk serves %d time(s)", asked.Load())
+	}
+	held := first.Heard[0]
+	known := func(name, id, digest string) (Heard, bool) {
+		if name == held.Info.Name && id == held.Info.ID && digest == held.Digest {
+			return held, true
+		}
+		return Heard{}, false
+	}
+	asked.Store(0)
+	second, err := Gather(console, known)
+	if err != nil || len(second.Heard) != 1 || !second.Heard[0].Reused || len(Endpoints(second.Heard[0].Info)) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("an unchanged announcement: %v %+v", err, second.Heard)
+	}
+	if asked.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("an unchanged announcement was asked for %d time(s)", asked.Load())
+	}
+
+	endpoints.Store([]Endpoint{
+		{Kind: KindTool, Module: "alpha", Tool: "one", Node: "desk", Subject: "mesh.mod.alpha.tool.one.desk"},
+		{Kind: KindTool, Module: "alpha", Tool: "two", Node: "desk", Subject: "mesh.mod.alpha.tool.two.desk"},
+	})
+	third, err := Gather(console, known)
+	if err != nil || len(third.Heard) != 1 || third.Heard[0].Reused || len(Endpoints(third.Heard[0].Info)) != 2 ||
+		third.Heard[0].Digest == held.Digest {
+		t.Fatalf("a changed announcement was not fetched: %v %+v", err, third.Heard)
+	}
+	if asked.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("a changed announcement was asked for %d time(s)", asked.Load())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/announce/gather_test.go b/node-tools/internal/announce/gather_test.go
index 27d836f..c5d8492 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/announce/gather_test.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/announce/gather_test.go
@@ -33,18 +33,22 @@ func lagging(t *testing.T, conn *bus.Conn, s Service, lag time.Duration, endpoin
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	t.Cleanup(stop)
-	stop, err = conn.Raw("$SRV.INFO", func(string, []byte) []byte {
+	// Asked of every service, and of this instance by name and id — as discovery asks it (issue 554).
+	info := func(string, []byte) []byte {
 		if lag < 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
 		time.Sleep(lag)
 		body, _ := json.Marshal(Info(s, endpoints))
 		return body
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	t.Cleanup(stop)
+	for _, subject := range []string{"$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO." + s.Name + "." + s.ID} {
+		stop, err := conn.Raw(subject, info)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		t.Cleanup(stop)
+	}
 	conn.Flush()
 }
 
@@ -73,7 +77,7 @@ func TestDiscoveryWaitsForEveryRuntimeThatSaidItIsThere(t *testing.T) {
 
 	asker := connect(t, "console", "desk")
 	start := time.Now()
-	d, err := Gather(asker)
+	d, err := Gather(asker, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ func TestDiscoveryDoesNotWaitWhenEveryoneAnswered(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Cleanup(stop)
 	fast.Flush()
 	start := time.Now()
-	d, err := Gather(connect(t, "console", "desk"))
+	d, err := Gather(connect(t, "console", "desk"), nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/bus/bus.go b/node-tools/internal/bus/bus.go
index ee80667..c1dd0e6 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/bus/bus.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/bus/bus.go
@@ -775,6 +775,21 @@ type Arrival struct {
 // that said it is there, not for a fixed moment (2026-10-05). Answers beyond what the caller has
 // taken are kept up to the channel's room; an empty answer is no answer.
 func (c *Conn) Collect(subject string, body []byte) (<-chan Arrival, func(), error) {
+	out, ask, stop, err := c.Collector(subject)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, func() {}, err
+	}
+	if err := ask(subject, body); err != nil {
+		stop()
+		return nil, func() {}, err
+	}
+	return out, stop, nil
+}
+
+// Collector is one inbox for many requests: every answer to every request `ask` publishes arrives on
+// the one channel, until stopped — for discovery, which asks each service that said it is there for
+// what it serves, as each says so (novox/hq issue 554). `what` names the requests in a log line.
+func (c *Conn) Collector(what string) (<-chan Arrival, func(subject string, body []byte) error, func(), error) {
 	inbox := c.nc.NewRespInbox()
 	out := make(chan Arrival, 1024)
 	var mu sync.Mutex
@@ -792,11 +807,11 @@ func (c *Conn) Collect(subject string, body []byte) (<-chan Arrival, func(), err
 		select {
 		case out <- a:
 		default:
-			c.Logf("[mesh-tools] more answers to %s than are kept; one (%d bytes) dropped", subject, len(msg.Data))
+			c.Logf("[mesh-tools] more answers to %s than are kept; one (%d bytes) dropped", what, len(msg.Data))
 		}
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, func() {}, err
+		return nil, nil, func() {}, err
 	}
 	stop := func() {
 		_ = sub.Unsubscribe()
@@ -804,11 +819,8 @@ func (c *Conn) Collect(subject string, body []byte) (<-chan Arrival, func(), err
 		stopped = true
 		mu.Unlock()
 	}
-	if err := c.nc.PublishRequest(subject, inbox, body); err != nil {
-		stop()
-		return nil, func() {}, err
-	}
-	return out, stop, nil
+	ask := func(subject string, body []byte) error { return c.nc.PublishRequest(subject, inbox, body) }
+	return out, ask, stop, nil
 }
 
 // MaxPayload is the largest message the bus carries, as the server told this connection.
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/address.go b/node-tools/internal/console/address.go
index f216ddc..73ef7c7 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/console/address.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/address.go
@@ -134,6 +134,42 @@ type index struct {
 	// Replaces is what each verb and tool replaces, from the controller's records (novox/hq ADR 0245):
 	// `seat:<seat>.<verb>` and `<module>.<tool>`.
 	Replaces map[string][]string
+	// Earlier is every runtime not heard this round whose last answer, within RuntimeForgotten, this
+	// index holds instead (novox/hq issue 554), by runtimeKey: when it was heard.
+	Earlier map[string]time.Time
+	// Stale is every module on a machine (`mod:<module>@<node>`) and every seat's holder
+	// (`seat:<seat>@<node>`) this index knows only from an earlier answer: from whom, and when.
+	Stale map[string]staleFrom
+}
+
+// staleFrom is where an address known only from an earlier round of discovery was heard.
+type staleFrom struct {
+	Runtime string
+	Machine string
+	At      time.Time
+}
+
+// say is the sentence a call or a description carries for it.
+func (f staleFrom) say() string {
+	who := f.Runtime
+	if f.Machine != "" {
+		who += " on " + f.Machine
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("found from what %s announced %s ago: it did not answer the latest round of discovery",
+		who, time.Since(f.At).Round(time.Second))
+}
+
+// earlier is a runtime's last answer, used for a round that did not hear it.
+type earlier struct {
+	Heard announce.Heard
+	At    time.Time
+}
+
+func endpointKey(e announce.Endpoint) string {
+	if e.Kind == announce.KindSeat {
+		return "seat:" + e.Seat + "@" + e.Node
+	}
+	return "mod:" + e.Module + "@" + e.Node
 }
 
 // unheard is one runtime discovery did not hear in full, and why.
@@ -237,7 +273,11 @@ type recordedMachine struct {
 // indexOn asks the mesh what it holds (novox/hq ADR 0197): what answers, from every runtime's own
 // announcement on the bus — one `$SRV.INFO` request — and what should, from the controller's records
 // read as JSON. Nothing is inferred from a roster and nothing is parsed from print.
-func indexOn(conn *bus.Conn) (*index, error) {
+//
+// `held` is what the console holds already, so an instance whose announcement is unchanged is not
+// asked for it again; `before` is the last answer of every runtime this round did not hear, which the
+// index holds instead, marked with its age (novox/hq issue 554).
+func indexOn(conn *bus.Conn, held announce.Known, before func(announce.Discovery) []earlier) (*index, error) {
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	var nodesOut, modulesOut string
 	var toolsAnswer json.RawMessage
@@ -252,19 +292,44 @@ func indexOn(conn *bus.Conn) (*index, error) {
 			toolsAnswer = got.Result
 		}
 	}()
-	d, err := announce.Gather(conn)
+	d, err := announce.Gather(conn, held)
 	wg.Wait()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	var endpoints []announce.Endpoint
+	fresh := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, h := range d.Heard {
-		endpoints = append(endpoints, announce.Endpoints(h.Info)...)
+		for _, e := range announce.Endpoints(h.Info) {
+			fresh[endpointKey(e)] = true
+			endpoints = append(endpoints, e)
+		}
+	}
+	// **A runtime not heard this round is not gone** (novox/hq issue 554): a round in which no answer
+	// crossed the laptop's link in time replaced a full index with an empty one, and every seat and
+	// module call was refused. What it announced last, within RuntimeForgotten, stands — said with its age.
+	stale := map[string]staleFrom{}
+	earlierAt := map[string]time.Time{}
+	if before != nil {
+		for _, b := range before(d) {
+			earlierAt[runtimeKey(b.Heard.Info.Name, b.Heard.Info.ID)] = b.At
+			for _, e := range announce.Endpoints(b.Heard.Info) {
+				k := endpointKey(e)
+				if fresh[k] {
+					continue
+				}
+				if _, have := stale[k]; !have {
+					stale[k] = staleFrom{Runtime: b.Heard.Info.Name, Machine: b.Heard.Machine(), At: b.At}
+				}
+				endpoints = append(endpoints, e)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	x, announced, machines := indexOfEndpoints(endpoints)
 	l := x.Listing
 	x.Discovery = d
+	x.Stale, x.Earlier = stale, earlierAt
 	for _, s := range d.Silent {
 		x.Unheard = append(x.Unheard, unheard{Runtime: s.Name, Machine: s.Machine,
 			Why: fmt.Sprintf("it answered PING; what it serves did not arrive within %s", announce.Patience)})
@@ -325,6 +390,10 @@ func containsHolder(hs []holder, h holder) bool {
 func (s *Surface) index() (*index, error) { return s.indexAsked(false) }
 
 // indexAsked is what the mesh answered, asked again when `fresh` or when the kept answer is old.
+//
+// **A round that heard nothing is not kept** (novox/hq issue 554): the index it gives holds what every
+// runtime announced last, marked with its age, and the next question asks again rather than living
+// with it for IndexKept.
 func (s *Surface) indexAsked(fresh bool) (*index, error) {
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	if !fresh && s.idx != nil && time.Since(s.idxAt) <= IndexKept {
@@ -333,13 +402,17 @@ func (s *Surface) indexAsked(fresh bool) (*index, error) {
 		return x, nil
 	}
 	s.mu.Unlock()
-	x, err := indexOn(s.conn)
+	x, err := indexOn(s.conn, s.held, s.before)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	s.remember(x)
-	s.idx, s.idxAt = x, time.Now()
+	s.sayRound(x)
+	s.idx = x
+	if !x.Discovery.Empty() {
+		s.idxAt = time.Now()
+	}
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 	return x, nil
 }
@@ -450,6 +523,26 @@ type target struct {
 	Node    string
 	Tool    Tool
 	Seat    bool
+	// Stale is set when the target is known only from an earlier round of discovery (novox/hq issue 554).
+	Stale *staleFrom
+}
+
+// staleOf is where a target was heard, when every place it answers is known only from an earlier round.
+func (x *index) staleOf(keys []string) *staleFrom {
+	if len(keys) == 0 || len(x.Stale) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var first *staleFrom
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		f, ok := x.Stale[k]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil
+		}
+		if first == nil {
+			first = &f
+		}
+	}
+	return first
 }
 
 // resolve turns an address into exactly one target, or says why it cannot.
@@ -487,12 +580,17 @@ func resolve(x *index, address string) (target, error) {
 				return target{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is held once per machine: write <node>/%s — it is held on %s",
 					prefix, rest, orNobody(nodesOf(s.Holders)))
 			}
-			return target{Address: node + "/" + rest, Key: "seat:" + rest + "@" + node, Name: rest, Node: node, Tool: *verb, Seat: true}, nil
+			return target{Address: node + "/" + rest, Key: "seat:" + rest + "@" + node, Name: rest, Node: node, Tool: *verb, Seat: true,
+				Stale: x.staleOf([]string{"seat:" + prefix + "@" + node})}, nil
 		}
 		if node != "" {
 			return target{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is held once for the whole mesh: write %s, without a machine", prefix, rest)
 		}
-		return target{Address: rest, Key: "seat:" + rest, Name: rest, Tool: *verb, Seat: true}, nil
+		var holders []string
+		for _, h := range s.Holders {
+			holders = append(holders, "seat:"+prefix+"@"+h.Node)
+		}
+		return target{Address: rest, Key: "seat:" + rest, Name: rest, Tool: *verb, Seat: true, Stale: x.staleOf(holders)}, nil
 	}
 
 	m := x.Modules[prefix]
@@ -509,6 +607,11 @@ func resolve(x *index, address string) (target, error) {
 			return target{}, fmt.Errorf("nothing that answered discovery is called %s, but not every runtime answered: %s — "+
 				"%s may be theirs. Ask again in a moment; mesh_runtimes shows which runtimes answered", prefix, sayUnheard(x.Unheard), prefix)
 		}
+		if x.Discovery.Empty() {
+			return target{}, fmt.Errorf("nothing answered discovery at all within %s, not even PING, and this console holds no "+
+				"earlier answer: whether anything is called %s is not known. Ask again in a moment; mesh_runtimes shows which "+
+				"runtimes answered", x.Discovery.Waited.Round(time.Millisecond), prefix)
+		}
 		return target{}, fmt.Errorf("nothing in the mesh is called %s: no seat, and no module that answers tools. "+
 			"mesh_search finds a tool by words", prefix)
 	}
@@ -521,7 +624,11 @@ func resolve(x *index, address string) (target, error) {
 			return target{}, fmt.Errorf("%s keeps state on each machine it runs on, so a call names the machine: "+
 				"write <node>/%s — it runs on %s", prefix, rest, orNobody(m.On))
 		}
-		return target{Address: rest, Key: rest, Name: rest, Tool: *tool}, nil
+		var on []string
+		for _, n := range m.On {
+			on = append(on, "mod:"+prefix+"@"+n)
+		}
+		return target{Address: rest, Key: rest, Name: rest, Tool: *tool, Stale: x.staleOf(on)}, nil
 	}
 	if len(m.On) > 0 && !contains(m.On, node) {
 		if us := x.unheardOn(node); len(us) > 0 || contains(x.Recorded[prefix], node) {
@@ -534,7 +641,8 @@ func resolve(x *index, address string) (target, error) {
 		}
 		return target{}, fmt.Errorf("%s does not run on %s; it runs on %s", prefix, node, orNobody(m.On))
 	}
-	return target{Address: node + "/" + rest, Key: rest + "@" + node, Name: rest, Node: node, Tool: *tool}, nil
+	return target{Address: node + "/" + rest, Key: rest + "@" + node, Name: rest, Node: node, Tool: *tool,
+		Stale: x.staleOf([]string{"mod:" + prefix + "@" + node})}, nil
 }
 
 // unheardOnAny is what is unheard on any of these machines.
@@ -861,6 +969,9 @@ func (s *Surface) discover(name string, args map[string]any) map[string]any {
 		if r := x.Replaces[key]; len(r) > 0 {
 			described["instead_of"] = r
 		}
+		if t.Stale != nil {
+			described["found"] = t.Stale.say()
+		}
 		return answerText(described)
 
 	case verbCall:
@@ -880,12 +991,19 @@ func (s *Surface) discover(name string, args map[string]any) map[string]any {
 			got, err = callTool(s.conn, t.Key, callArgs, nil, x.Listing)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
-			return failure(whyItFailed(t.Address, err))
+			why := whyItFailed(t.Address, err)
+			if t.Stale != nil {
+				why += " (" + t.Stale.say() + ")"
+			}
+			return failure(why)
 		}
 		content := []map[string]any{{"type": "text", "text": pretty(got.Result)}}
 		if got.Node != "" {
 			content = append(content, map[string]any{"type": "text", "text": "answered by " + got.Node})
 		}
+		if t.Stale != nil {
+			content = append(content, map[string]any{"type": "text", "text": t.Stale.say()})
+		}
 		return map[string]any{"content": content}
 	}
 	return failure("no discovery verb " + name)
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/client.go b/node-tools/internal/console/client.go
index 2cc3e08..1b80b87 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/console/client.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/client.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func toolKey(name string, seats Seats) string {
 // toolsOn is the flat catalogue (MESH_CONSOLE_FLAT=1): what announced itself on the bus, every
 // tool and seat verb, and the assignments with tools that did not (novox/hq ADR 0197).
 func toolsOn(conn *bus.Conn) (*Listing, error) {
-	x, err := indexOn(conn)
+	x, err := indexOn(conn, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/empty_round_test.go b/node-tools/internal/console/empty_round_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..474dafa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/empty_round_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+package console
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-tools/node-tools/internal/announce"
+	mt "github.com/novox/mesh-tools/node-tools/internal/meshtest"
+)
+
+// novox/hq issue 554, reproduced: the laptop's console heard every runtime, then a round in which
+// nothing answered discovery in time — and every seat and module call was refused ("it answered
+// discovery 2s ago, not now") for the five seconds that round was kept, again and again. Now a call
+// is resolved against what the runtime announced last, says how old that is, and reaches the tool; the
+// empty round is logged once, is not kept, and the next question asks again.
+func TestACallAfterARoundThatHeardNothingUsesWhatWasHeardBefore(t *testing.T) {
+	keptWas, patienceWas := IndexKept, announce.Patience
+	IndexKept, announce.Patience = 0, 1200*time.Millisecond
+	t.Cleanup(func() { IndexKept, announce.Patience = keptWas, patienceWas })
+	mt.New(t)
+
+	// The tools answer on their own connection; discovery is answered on another, which goes quiet.
+	tools := connect(t, "node-tools", "laptop")
+	stopTool, err := tools.HandleSubject("mesh.mod.slack.tool.slack_check.laptop", func(json.RawMessage) (any, error) {
+		return map[string]any{"ok": true}, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(stopTool)
+	stopSeat, err := tools.HandleSubject("mesh.seat.issue-tracker.tool.list", func(json.RawMessage) (any, error) {
+		return map[string]any{"issues": []int{554}}, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(stopSeat)
+	tools.Flush()
+	endpoints := []announce.Endpoint{
+		{Kind: announce.KindTool, Module: "slack", Tool: "slack_check", Node: "laptop", Subject: "mesh.mod.slack.tool.slack_check.laptop"},
+		{Kind: announce.KindSeat, Module: "issue-tracker", Seat: "issue-tracker", Tool: "list", Scope: "mesh", Node: "laptop",
+			Schema: json.RawMessage(`{}`), Subject: "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.tool.list"},
+	}
+	announcing := connect(t, "node-tools", "laptop")
+	stopAnnounce, err := announce.Serve(announcing, announce.Service{Name: "node-tools", ID: "laptop",
+		Metadata: map[string]string{"node": "laptop"}}, func() []announce.Endpoint { return endpoints })
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	announcing.Flush()
+
+	console := connect(t, "node-tools", "laptop-console")
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	var logged []string
+	console.Logf = func(f string, a ...any) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		logged = append(logged, fmt.Sprintf(f, a...))
+	}
+	said := func(words string) int {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		n := 0
+		for _, l := range logged {
+			if strings.Contains(l, words) {
+				n++
+			}
+		}
+		return n
+	}
+	surface := NewSurface(console, "laptop.node-tools")
+	up, err := Serve(surface, "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer up.Close()
+	endpoint := "http://" + up.Address + "/mcp"
+
+	if got, isErr := call(t, endpoint, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": "laptop/slack.slack_check"}); isErr || strings.Contains(got, "announced") {
+		t.Fatalf("while discovery hears the runtime: %s", got)
+	}
+
+	// Discovery goes quiet: no PING arrives at all.
+	stopAnnounce()
+	announcing.Flush()
+	for _, address := range []string{"laptop/slack.slack_check", "issue-tracker.list"} {
+		got, isErr := call(t, endpoint, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": address})
+		if isErr || !strings.Contains(got, "found from what node-tools on laptop announced") ||
+			!strings.Contains(got, "ago: it did not answer the latest round of discovery") {
+			t.Errorf("%s after a round that heard nothing: %s", address, got)
+		}
+	}
+	if got, isErr := call(t, endpoint, "mesh_describe", map[string]any{"address": "issue-tracker.list"}); isErr || !strings.Contains(got, `"found"`) {
+		t.Errorf("describe after a round that heard nothing: %s", got)
+	}
+	if n := said("discovery heard nothing at all"); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("the empty round was logged %d time(s), want once: %v", n, logged)
+	}
+	// A runtime really gone: the call is sent on what it announced, and fails with the bus's own refusal,
+	// saying where the address was found.
+	stopTool()
+	tools.Flush()
+	if got, isErr := call(t, endpoint, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": "laptop/slack.slack_check"}); !isErr ||
+		!strings.Contains(got, "nothing serves") || !strings.Contains(got, "found from what node-tools on laptop announced") {
+		t.Errorf("a gone runtime's tool: %s", got)
+	}
+	surface.mu.Lock()
+	kept := surface.idx != nil && !surface.idx.Discovery.Empty() && time.Since(surface.idxAt) < time.Second
+	surface.mu.Unlock()
+	if kept {
+		t.Error("a round that heard nothing was kept as the answer")
+	}
+
+	// Discovery answers again: the calls are plain again, and that is logged once.
+	stopAgain, err := announce.Serve(announcing, announce.Service{Name: "node-tools", ID: "laptop",
+		Metadata: map[string]string{"node": "laptop"}}, func() []announce.Endpoint { return endpoints })
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(stopAgain)
+	announcing.Flush()
+	if got, isErr := call(t, endpoint, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": "issue-tracker.list"}); isErr || strings.Contains(got, "announced") {
+		t.Errorf("once discovery hears the runtime again: %s", got)
+	}
+	if n := said("discovery hears every runtime again"); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("the recovery was logged %d time(s): %v", n, logged)
+	}
+}
+
+// An address known only from an earlier answer says how old it is; one heard fresh on its machine is
+// plain, even where the same module is known only from an earlier answer on another.
+func TestAnAddressKnownOnlyFromAnEarlierAnswerSaysHowOld(t *testing.T) {
+	at := time.Now().Add(-20 * time.Second)
+	x := &index{Modules: map[string]*moduleInfo{"slack": {Module: "slack", On: []string{"laptop"},
+		Tools: []Tool{{Module: "slack", Name: "slack_check"}}}}, Recorded: map[string][]string{},
+		Stale:     map[string]staleFrom{"mod:slack@laptop": {Runtime: "node-tools", Machine: "laptop", At: at}},
+		Discovery: announce.Discovery{Pinged: 0}}
+	got, err := resolve(x, "laptop/slack.slack_check")
+	if err != nil || got.Stale == nil || !strings.Contains(got.Stale.say(), "announced 20s ago") {
+		t.Fatalf("%+v %v", got, err)
+	}
+	// A module heard fresh on one machine and only earlier on another: the fresh one is plain.
+	x.Modules["slack"].On = []string{"desk", "laptop"}
+	if got, err := resolve(x, "desk/slack.slack_check"); err != nil || got.Stale != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a fresh machine's module marked stale: %+v %v", got, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/mcp.go b/node-tools/internal/console/mcp.go
index 0183e83..062d52c 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/console/mcp.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/mcp.go
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ type Surface struct {
 	idxAt time.Time
 	// runtimes is every runtime discovery has heard, as it last heard it (mesh_runtimes).
 	runtimes map[string]*runtimeSeen
+	// roundSaid is what the last round logged was missing, so a round is logged once (novox/hq issue 554).
+	roundSaid string
 	// Flat announces the whole catalogue, as the console did before ADR 0195: for a person reading
 	// it or a client that wants it. Off by default; MESH_CONSOLE_FLAT=1 turns it on.
 	Flat bool
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes.go b/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes.go
index 855b28f..6335a71 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes.go
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ package console
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-tools/node-tools/internal/announce"
@@ -31,6 +33,11 @@ type runtimeSeen struct {
 	Shortened string
 	Answered  bool   // in the latest round
 	Why       string // why not, when it did not
+	// Reused is true when its PING said its announcement was unchanged, so it was not fetched again.
+	Reused bool
+	// Last is its last whole answer: what a round that does not hear it uses instead, and what an
+	// unchanged digest stands for (novox/hq issue 554).
+	Last announce.Heard
 }
 
 func runtimeKey(name, id string) string { return name + "/" + id }
@@ -50,7 +57,108 @@ func seenOf(h announce.Heard, at time.Time) *runtimeSeen {
 		}
 	}
 	return &runtimeSeen{Name: h.Info.Name, ID: h.Info.ID, Machine: h.Machine(), LastHeard: at, Took: h.Took,
-		Bytes: h.Bytes, Modules: len(modules), Tools: len(tools), SeatVerbs: len(verbs), Shortened: h.Shortened, Answered: true}
+		Bytes: h.Bytes, Modules: len(modules), Tools: len(tools), SeatVerbs: len(verbs), Shortened: h.Shortened, Answered: true,
+		Reused: h.Reused, Last: h}
+}
+
+// held is the answer this console holds for an instance at this digest (announce.Known): an instance
+// whose announcement is unchanged is not asked for it again (novox/hq issue 554).
+func (s *Surface) held(name, id, digest string) (announce.Heard, bool) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	r := s.runtimes[runtimeKey(name, id)]
+	if r == nil || r.Last.Digest == "" || r.Last.Digest != digest || r.Last.Info.Name == "" {
+		return announce.Heard{}, false
+	}
+	h := r.Last
+	h.Took, h.Reused = 0, false
+	return h, true
+}
+
+// before is the last answer of every runtime this round did not hear, heard within RuntimeForgotten
+// and not since restarted under another instance (novox/hq issue 554).
+func (s *Surface) before(d announce.Discovery) []earlier {
+	heard := map[string]bool{}
+	running := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, h := range d.Heard {
+		heard[runtimeKey(h.Info.Name, h.Info.ID)] = true
+		if m := h.Machine(); m != "" {
+			running[h.Info.Name+"@"+m] = true
+		}
+	}
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	var out []earlier
+	for k, r := range s.runtimes {
+		if heard[k] || r.Last.Info.Name == "" || r.LastHeard.IsZero() || time.Since(r.LastHeard) > RuntimeForgotten {
+			continue
+		}
+		if r.Machine != "" && running[r.Name+"@"+r.Machine] {
+			continue // restarted: the new instance answered
+		}
+		out = append(out, earlier{Heard: r.Last, At: r.LastHeard})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return runtimeKey(out[i].Heard.Info.Name, out[i].Heard.Info.ID) < runtimeKey(out[j].Heard.Info.Name, out[j].Heard.Info.ID)
+	})
+	return out
+}
+
+// sayRound logs a round of discovery that did not hear every runtime — once, when what it missed
+// changes, and once when every runtime is heard again — so the next case leaves evidence in the
+// journal (novox/hq issue 554). Called with s.mu held, after remember.
+func (s *Surface) sayRound(x *index) {
+	d := x.Discovery
+	var missed []string
+	for _, u := range x.Unheard {
+		who := u.Runtime
+		if u.Machine != "" {
+			who += " on " + u.Machine
+		}
+		missed = append(missed, who)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(missed)
+	shape := strings.Join(missed, ", ")
+	if d.Empty() {
+		shape = "empty|" + shape
+	}
+	if shape == s.roundSaid {
+		return
+	}
+	s.roundSaid = shape
+	reused := 0
+	for _, h := range d.Heard {
+		if h.Reused {
+			reused++
+		}
+	}
+	logf := log.Printf
+	if s.conn != nil && s.conn.Logf != nil {
+		logf = s.conn.Logf
+	}
+	window := fmt.Sprintf("waited %s (window %s, patience %s)", d.Waited.Round(time.Millisecond), announce.Window, announce.Patience)
+	held := ""
+	if len(x.Earlier) > 0 {
+		held = fmt.Sprintf("; what %d of them announced earlier is used, with its age", len(x.Earlier))
+	}
+	switch {
+	case d.Empty():
+		logf("[mesh-tools] discovery heard nothing at all: no PING arrived; %s; not heard: %s%s; asking again at the next question",
+			window, orNone(missed), held)
+	case len(missed) > 0:
+		logf("[mesh-tools] discovery did not hear every runtime: %d PING answer(s), %d announcement(s) (%d unchanged, not fetched); %s; not heard: %s%s",
+			d.Pinged, len(d.Heard), reused, window, shape, held)
+	default:
+		logf("[mesh-tools] discovery hears every runtime again: %d PING answer(s), %d announcement(s) (%d unchanged, not fetched); %s",
+			d.Pinged, len(d.Heard), reused, window)
+	}
+}
+
+func orNone(xs []string) string {
+	if len(xs) == 0 {
+		return "none heard before either"
+	}
+	return strings.Join(xs, ", ")
 }
 
 // remember records a round of discovery and adds to the index every runtime heard lately that did not
@@ -101,14 +209,25 @@ func (s *Surface) remember(x *index) {
 			continue
 		}
 		r.Answered = false
+		used := ""
+		if at, ok := x.Earlier[k]; ok {
+			used = fmt.Sprintf("; what it announced %s ago is used", time.Since(at).Round(time.Second))
+		}
 		if why, ok := silent[k]; ok {
 			r.Why = why
+			if used != "" {
+				for i := range x.Unheard {
+					if x.Unheard[i].Runtime == r.Name && x.Unheard[i].Machine == r.Machine && x.Unheard[i].Why == why {
+						x.Unheard[i].Why += used
+					}
+				}
+			}
 			continue // already in the index's unheard
 		}
 		r.Why = "it did not answer this round of discovery"
 		if time.Since(r.LastHeard) <= RuntimeForgotten {
 			x.Unheard = append(x.Unheard, unheard{Runtime: r.Name, Machine: r.Machine,
-				Why: fmt.Sprintf("it answered discovery %s ago, not now", time.Since(r.LastHeard).Round(time.Second))})
+				Why: fmt.Sprintf("it answered discovery %s ago, not now%s", time.Since(r.LastHeard).Round(time.Second), used)})
 		}
 	}
 	for _, u := range x.Discovery.Silent {
@@ -157,6 +276,9 @@ func (s *Surface) runtimesAnswer() map[string]any {
 			if r.Shortened != "" {
 				entry["shortened, how"] = r.Shortened
 			}
+			if r.Reused && r.Answered {
+				entry["announcement"] = "unchanged (its PING's digest), so not fetched again; took is its PING's"
+			}
 		}
 		if r.Answered {
 			onMachine[r.Machine] = true
@@ -184,7 +306,7 @@ func (s *Surface) runtimesAnswer() map[string]any {
 	return answerText(map[string]any{
 		"asked":     x.Discovery.At.Format(time.RFC3339),
 		"waited":    x.Discovery.Waited.Round(time.Millisecond).String(),
-		"window":    fmt.Sprintf("at least %s; up to %s for a runtime that answered PING", announce.Window, announce.Patience),
+		"window":    fmt.Sprintf("at least %s; up to %s for a runtime that answered PING, or until one does", announce.Window, announce.Patience),
 		"answered":  answered,
 		"not heard": notHeard,
 	})
diff --git a/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes_test.go b/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes_test.go
index c82d48a..81bedf5 100644
--- a/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes_test.go
+++ b/node-tools/internal/console/runtimes_test.go
@@ -23,18 +23,22 @@ func slowRuntime(t *testing.T, conn *bus.Conn, node string, lag time.Duration, e
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	t.Cleanup(stop)
-	stop, err = conn.Raw("$SRV.INFO", func(string, []byte) []byte {
+	// Asked of every service, and of this instance by name and id — as discovery asks it (issue 554).
+	info := func(string, []byte) []byte {
 		if lag < 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
 		time.Sleep(lag)
 		body, _ := json.Marshal(announce.Info(announce.Service{Name: id.Name, ID: id.ID, Metadata: id.Metadata}, endpoints))
 		return body
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	t.Cleanup(stop)
+	for _, subject := range []string{"$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO." + id.Name + "." + id.ID} {
+		stop, err := conn.Raw(subject, info)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		t.Cleanup(stop)
+	}
 	conn.Flush()
 }
 
@@ -175,7 +179,7 @@ func TestARuntimeHeardBeforeAndNotNowIsNamed(t *testing.T) {
 	s.remember(before)
 	now := &index{Modules: map[string]*moduleInfo{"nextcloud-client": {Module: "nextcloud-client", On: []string{"desktop"},
 		Tools: []Tool{{Module: "nextcloud-client", Name: "nextcloud_check"}}}}, Recorded: map[string][]string{},
-		Discovery: announce.Discovery{At: time.Now().UTC()}}
+		Discovery: announce.Discovery{At: time.Now().UTC(), Pinged: 1}} // desktop's runtime answered
 	s.remember(now)
 	if len(now.Unheard) != 1 || now.Unheard[0].Machine != "laptop" {
 		t.Fatalf("unheard: %+v", now.Unheard)
@@ -190,7 +194,7 @@ func TestARuntimeHeardBeforeAndNotNowIsNamed(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("%v", err)
 	}
 	// Nobody unheard: the plain answers stand.
-	quiet := &index{Modules: now.Modules, Recorded: map[string][]string{}}
+	quiet := &index{Modules: now.Modules, Recorded: map[string][]string{}, Discovery: now.Discovery}
 	if _, err := resolve(quiet, "laptop/nextcloud-client.nextcloud_check"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not run on laptop; it runs on desktop") {
 		t.Errorf("%v", err)
 	}