diff --git a/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md b/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
index a1523686..15ffce70 100644
--- a/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
+++ b/docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-10-29-stick-5-proxy-zuse-and-real-zuse.md
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ Tasks 1-3 accepted and merged (#159, master 594d2f93); #155 merged with them.
 - [x] 4.1 the first failing test: `qemu_session.py` mode `mint_zuse` and `add_stick(n, img, port)`
 - [x] 4.2 run `mint_zuse` on amd64 before any kernel change: FAIL, "UNKNOWN WORD: 'MINT-ZUSE'" (logs/20261108-175928); the prompt check tightened to need the minted line first
 - [x] 4.3 `gpt_write_one()` in `kernel/src/gpt.c` (one partition, protective MBR, both headers): builds clean on three ISAs; checked on the host (a throwaway harness, not in the tree) -- 600 MiB and 32 MiB blank images and the pair's used Zuse stick each give one identity partition, `gpt_read` reads it back, `sfdisk --verify` clean. Not yet called.
-- [ ] 4.4 `sk_v4_identity_offer_wait()` / `sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered()`: a stick offered, not attached, while a mint waits
+- [x] 4.4 `sk_v4_identity_offer_wait()` / `sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered()`: a stick offered, not attached, while a mint waits (`g_mint_waiting`, `g_offered` in `sk_v4_identity.c`; any stick not this system's and readable -- blank, foreign or a bad table; ends on a stick, a key, or the system stick leaving). Builds on three ISAs; not yet called.
 - [ ] 4.5 `sk_v4_mint.c`: the flow -- plug-in line, size line, `YES`, GPT, zeroed, minted, read back, marker
 - [ ] 4.6 `MINT-ZUSE` in `sk_v4_words[]` (request 2): word_count 317 -> 318
 - [ ] 4.7 the real Zuse stick recognised and attached after the system stick; her session
diff --git a/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_identity.h b/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_identity.h
index 46ad8db2..979b9e6f 100644
--- a/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_identity.h
+++ b/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_identity.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #define STARKERNEL_V4_SK_V4_IDENTITY_H
 
 #include "uefi.h"   /* BootDisk */
+#include "blkio.h"
 
 /* After POST and the block chain: every xHCI controller brought up, and the
  * heartbeat started, as the v3 path does before its headless wait. `boot_disk`
@@ -31,6 +32,16 @@ void sk_v4_identity_beat(void);
  * is seen before a prompt is shown. */
 void sk_v4_identity_check_now(void);
 
+/* MINT-ZUSE (plan 2026-10-29-stick-5, Task 4): beat until a stick that is not
+ * this system's arrives -- it is offered, not attached or refused: 1, its raw
+ * device and size in bytes -- or a key is pressed, or the system stick
+ * leaves: 0. */
+int sk_v4_identity_offer_wait(blkio_dev_t **raw, uint64_t *bytes);
+
+/* The arrival check run again on the offered stick, now that the mint has
+ * written its GPT and identity (it is then recognised as the real Zuse's). */
+void sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered(void);
+
 /* Headless: no prompt, and what is typed is read and dropped, until Zuse's
  * session begins (v3's sk_repl_headless_wait()). */
 void sk_v4_identity_wait(void);
diff --git a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
index b1d266a3..64be80e2 100644
--- a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
+++ b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_identity.c
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ static struct {
 static gpt_part_t g_gpt_parts[SK_V4_GPT_PARTS];
 
 static uint64_t g_last_beat;
+/* MINT-ZUSE (plan 2026-10-29-stick-5, Task 4): while a mint waits for a
+ * stick, one that arrives and is not this system's stick is offered to it,
+ * not refused; it is remembered here until the mint is done with it */
+static int            g_mint_waiting;
+static sk_v4_drive_t *g_offered;
 static const BootDisk *g_boot_disk;     /* the loader's: the disk it booted from */
 static int      g_stick_in;             /* a stick's Artemis partition is attached */
 
@@ -275,6 +280,13 @@ static int sk_v4_drive_arrived(sk_v4_drive_t *d)
     d->used = (blkio_dev_t *)0;
     d->art_used = (blkio_dev_t *)0;
     gpt_rc = gpt_read(&d->raw, g_gpt_parts, SK_V4_GPT_PARTS, &nparts);
+    /* a mint waits: any stick that is not this system's, and can be read, is
+     * offered to it -- blank, foreign, or with a table that does not check out */
+    if (g_mint_waiting && !g_offered && gpt_rc != GPT_EIO &&
+        !(gpt_rc == GPT_OK && sk_v4_is_this_stick(nparts))) {
+        g_offered = d;
+        return 1;
+    }
     if (gpt_rc == GPT_BAD) {
         console_println("GPT: a USB drive has a damaged partition table -- not used");
         return 1;
@@ -357,6 +369,8 @@ static void sk_v4_drive_left(sk_v4_drive_t *d)
 {
     blkio_dev_t *dev = d->used;
 
+    if (d == g_offered) g_offered = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;     /* the offered stick, pulled */
+
     if (dev) {
         d->used = (blkio_dev_t *)0;
         blk_subsys_detach_device(dev);
@@ -439,6 +453,35 @@ void sk_v4_identity_check_now(void)
     sk_v4_idle();
 }
 
+int sk_v4_identity_offer_wait(blkio_dev_t **raw, uint64_t *bytes)
+{
+    int got = 0;
+
+    g_offered = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
+    g_mint_waiting = 1;
+    for (;;) {
+        sk_v4_identity_beat();
+        if (g_offered) { got = 1; break; }
+        if (!g_stick_in) break;                      /* the system stick left */
+        if (sk_input_getc() >= 0) break;             /* any key stops it */
+        arch_halt();
+    }
+    g_mint_waiting = 0;
+    if (got) {
+        *raw = &g_offered->raw;
+        *bytes = (uint64_t)g_offered->raw.total_blocks * BLKIO_FORTH_BLOCK_SIZE;
+    }
+    return got;
+}
+
+void sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered(void)
+{
+    sk_v4_drive_t *d = g_offered;
+
+    g_offered = (sk_v4_drive_t *)0;
+    if (d) (void)sk_v4_drive_arrived(d);
+}
+
 /* What was typed at a headless machine -- on the serial line or any
  * keyboard -- is no one's: it is read and dropped, so that it does not run
  * as whoever logs in next (the identity gate's final review, item 4,