diff --git a/forgetest/forgetest/fixture.py b/forgetest/forgetest/fixture.py
index fa8597b..ee907b1 100644
--- a/forgetest/forgetest/fixture.py
+++ b/forgetest/forgetest/fixture.py
@@ -43,7 +43,14 @@ PULSE_WAIT_S = 1.5              # a pulse in progress ends within the firmware's
 
 
 class FixtureError(Exception):
-    pass
+    """A request the fixture did not carry out as asked. `sent` is True
+    when the failure came after the request went out (no reply, or a
+    reply cut off), so the box may have acted on it; a refusal, a failed
+    lookup and a failed connect leave it False."""
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, sent=False):
+        super().__init__(*args)
+        self.sent = sent
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- mDNS
@@ -271,11 +278,20 @@ class Fixture:
                 body = {}
             return e.code, body
         except (urllib.error.URLError, socket.timeout, OSError) as e:
+            # urllib raises a failed connect or send as a URLError; a
+            # timeout or a reset after the request went out comes bare, and
+            # the box may have acted on the request
+            sent = not isinstance(e, urllib.error.URLError)
             if retry and not self.ip_override:
-                # the address may have moved: one fresh lookup, one retry
-                self.address(refresh=True)
-                return self._request(method, path, body, retry=False)
-            raise FixtureError("fixture %s: %s %s: %s" % (self.where(), method, path, e))
+                # the address may have moved: one fresh lookup, one retry,
+                # and a failure of either still says the first one went out
+                try:
+                    self.address(refresh=True)
+                    return self._request(method, path, body, retry=False)
+                except FixtureError as again:
+                    again.sent = again.sent or sent
+                    raise
+            raise FixtureError("fixture %s: %s %s: %s" % (self.where(), method, path, e), sent=sent)
 
     def status(self):
         st, body = self._request("GET", "/")
diff --git a/forgetest/forgetest/runner.py b/forgetest/forgetest/runner.py
index 75f6db5..d23028d 100644
--- a/forgetest/forgetest/runner.py
+++ b/forgetest/forgetest/runner.py
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ class Context:
         except _fixture.FixtureError as e:
             rec["fixture_error"] = str(e)
             if self._press_taken(rec, e):
-                return True
+                return rec["by"] == "fixture"
             self.log("ARM press: fixture failed (%s) - asking the operator", e)
             self.notice(text)
             self._clear_when_taken()
@@ -496,16 +496,23 @@ class Context:
 
     def _press_taken(self, rec, err):
         """After the box reported a failed press of a lit button: True when
-        the button is out, so the controller took a press (the box pressed
-        and its reply was lost). The press is recorded as the box's, and
-        no notice goes up, because it would ask for a second press, and a
-        press during the job pauses it. A button still lit, or unreadable,
-        is False: the operator is asked."""
+        the button is out, so the controller took a press. No notice goes
+        up then, because it would ask for a second press, and a press during
+        the job pauses it. The press is recorded as the box's only when its
+        request went out and the failure came after it (err.sent: the box
+        pressed and its reply was lost). After a refusal, a failed lookup
+        or a failed connect the box made no press, and the record stays as
+        it was: the press was a person's. A button still lit, or
+        unreadable, is False: the operator is asked."""
         if hw.button_lit() is not False:
             return False
-        rec["by"] = "fixture"
-        self.log("ARM press: the fixture reported a failure (%s), and the button is out: the press "
-                 "was taken; no notice", err)
+        if getattr(err, "sent", False):
+            rec["by"] = "fixture"
+            self.log("ARM press: the fixture reported a failure (%s), and the button is out: the press "
+                     "was taken; no notice", err)
+        else:
+            self.log("ARM press: the fixture made no press (%s), and the button is out: a press was "
+                     "taken all the same; no notice", err)
         return True
 
     def _clear_when_taken(self, lit_timeout=ARM_LIT_WAIT_S):
diff --git a/forgetest/tests/test_fixture.py b/forgetest/tests/test_fixture.py
index a0ad57a..ec2f1bd 100644
--- a/forgetest/tests/test_fixture.py
+++ b/forgetest/tests/test_fixture.py
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ class FakeFixture:
         self.button_enabled = button_enabled
         self.calls = []
         self.presses = 0            # presses the device performed
+        self.reply_delay = 0.0      # seconds between a press and its reply
+        self.replied = 0            # delayed replies the device is done with (sent or lost)
         srv = self
 
         class H(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
@@ -95,6 +97,14 @@ class FakeFixture:
                     threading.Timer(0.05, lambda: srv.state.__setitem__("button", "idle")).start()
                     s = self._state()
                     s["pulse_ms"] = 200
+                    if srv.reply_delay:
+                        time.sleep(srv.reply_delay)     # the reply comes after the client gave up
+                        try:
+                            self._json(200, s)
+                        except OSError:
+                            pass
+                        srv.replied += 1
+                        return None
                     return self._json(200, s)
                 if self.path == "/release":
                     srv.state = {"lid": "closed", "interlock": "closed", "button": "idle"}
@@ -109,6 +119,11 @@ class FakeFixture:
         self.httpd.shutdown()
         self.httpd.server_close()
 
+    def wait_replied(self, n, timeout=5.0):
+        deadline = time.time() + timeout
+        while self.replied < n and time.time() < deadline:
+            time.sleep(0.02)
+
 
 class ConfigTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
@@ -155,11 +170,11 @@ class ClientTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.resolved.append(hostname)
         return "127.0.0.1"
 
-    def client(self, **over):
+    def client(self, timeout=3.0, resolver=None, **over):
         cfg = {"hostname": "forgefixture", "key": KEY, "channels": ["lid", "interlock", "button"],
                "port": self.dev.port}
         cfg.update(over)
-        return fx.Fixture(cfg, resolver=self.resolver)
+        return fx.Fixture(cfg, timeout=timeout, resolver=resolver or self.resolver)
 
     def test_status_covers_act_release(self):
         f = self.client()
@@ -196,6 +211,35 @@ class ClientTests(unittest.TestCase):
             f.act("button", "press")
         self.assertIn("jumper", str(cm.exception))
 
+    def test_a_failure_after_the_request_went_out_says_so(self):
+        # The press made and its reply lost (it comes after the client's
+        # timeout): sent, one press. A refusal, a failed lookup and a
+        # refused connect: not sent, no press. The one retry keeps it.
+        self.dev.reply_delay = 0.6
+        with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
+            self.client(timeout=0.2, ip="127.0.0.1").act("button", "press")
+        self.assertTrue(cm.exception.sent)
+        self.dev.wait_replied(1)
+        self.assertEqual(self.dev.presses, 1)
+        answers = ["127.0.0.1"]                 # the refresh lookup after the timeout finds nothing
+        with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
+            self.client(timeout=0.2, resolver=lambda h: answers.pop(0) if answers else None).act("button", "press")
+        self.assertTrue(cm.exception.sent)
+        self.dev.wait_replied(2)
+        self.assertEqual(self.dev.presses, 2)
+        self.dev.reply_delay = 0.0
+        self.dev.button_enabled = False
+        with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
+            self.client(ip="127.0.0.1").act("button", "press")
+        self.assertFalse(cm.exception.sent)
+        with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
+            self.client(resolver=lambda h: None).act("button", "press")
+        self.assertFalse(cm.exception.sent)
+        with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
+            self.client(timeout=0.5, ip="127.0.0.1", port=1).act("button", "press")
+        self.assertFalse(cm.exception.sent)
+        self.assertEqual(self.dev.presses, 2)
+
     def test_a_wrong_key_is_refused(self):
         f = self.client(key="wrong")
         with self.assertRaises(fx.FixtureError) as cm:
@@ -631,7 +675,7 @@ class RoutingTests(unittest.TestCase):
             # press was taken, and no notice asks for a second one.
             def pressed_then_failed(channel, state, ms=None):
                 lit["v"] = False                         # the controller takes the press
-                raise fx.FixtureError("timed out")
+                raise fx.FixtureError("timed out", sent=True)
             self.stub.act = pressed_then_failed
             lit["v"] = True
             self.assertTrue(ctx.press_now())
@@ -645,6 +689,25 @@ class RoutingTests(unittest.TestCase):
             time.sleep(0.1)
             self.assertEqual(ctx.evidence["actions"][-1]["by"], "fixture")
             self.assertIsNone(run.notice)
+            # A refusal (or a request that never reached the box) while the
+            # button went out: a press at the machine was taken, so no notice
+            # goes up either, and the record does not give it to the box.
+            def refused_while_pressed(channel, state, ms=None):
+                lit["v"] = False                         # a person's press is taken
+                raise fx.FixtureError("button press -> 409 button disabled: the enable jumper is out")
+            self.stub.act = refused_while_pressed
+            lit["v"] = True
+            self.assertFalse(ctx.press_now())
+            self.assertIsNone(run.notice)
+            self.assertEqual(ctx.evidence["actions"][-1]["by"], "operator")
+            lit["v"] = True
+            self.assertTrue(ctx.arm_press())
+            deadline = time.time() + 2
+            while "fixture_error" not in ctx.evidence["actions"][-1] and time.time() < deadline:
+                time.sleep(0.02)
+            time.sleep(0.1)
+            self.assertEqual(ctx.evidence["actions"][-1]["by"], "operator")
+            self.assertIsNone(run.notice)
         finally:
             runner_mod.hw.button_lit = saved