diff --git a/TODO.org b/TODO.org
index cb5b1090..e6cb60ad 100644
--- a/TODO.org
+++ b/TODO.org
@@ -827,7 +827,8 @@ the losing side meets the strict =bool= boundary and traps —
 =(or false (box "s"))= is the case. Whether a =bool= arm and a =dyn= arm should
 join as =dyn= is the author's call and is not settled.
 
-** TODO A truthiness failure re-runs the whole failing subtree
+** NEXT A truthiness failure re-runs the whole failing subtree
+Decided 2026-09-25: fix it without changing any message — the retry reuses what the first pass settled for each subtree (memoised by node), so nested =not= is linear. Test with a deep nest that must fail fast and with the existing message tests unchanged.
 The retry exists to keep a refused literal's message unchanged and re-runs the
 subtree rather than the leaf, which is exponential in nested =not= depth on a
 program that does not type-check. Moot for anything that compiles; only the