diff --git a/internal/api/dockersched.go b/internal/api/dockersched.go
index 48db5cd..8fc33c1 100644
--- a/internal/api/dockersched.go
+++ b/internal/api/dockersched.go
@@ -340,7 +340,6 @@ func (s *Server) dsRun(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		rec.Error = err.Error()
 	}
 	_ = storage.WriteRun(s.cfg.DataDir(), "docker-"+id, rec)
-	stackUpdatesForget("/" + job.Stack)
 	if err != nil {
 		jsonErr(w, 500, err.Error()+"\n"+tail(out, 2000))
 		return
diff --git a/internal/api/stacks.go b/internal/api/stacks.go
index 061ad5c..3e856e1 100644
--- a/internal/api/stacks.go
+++ b/internal/api/stacks.go
@@ -744,7 +744,6 @@ func (s *Server) stackAction(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, dockerTool(), "exec", via, "pkill", "-TERM", "-f", pattern).Run()
 		})
 	}
-	stackUpdatesForget(st.Name)
 	log.Printf("stack %s: %s started as task %s (from %s)", st.Name, r.PathValue("action"), t.ID, clientIP(r))
 	jsonOK(w, 202, t.Snapshot(false))
 }
@@ -755,6 +754,7 @@ type imageCheck struct {
 	Image  string `json:"image"`
 	State  string `json:"state"` // current | update | unknown
 	Detail string `json:"detail,omitempty"`
+	remote string // the digest the registry named, so a later pull can be recognised without asking again
 }
 
 type updAnswer struct {
@@ -767,7 +767,41 @@ var (
 	updCache = map[string]updAnswer{}
 )
 
-func stackUpdatesForget(key string) { updMu.Lock(); delete(updCache, key); updMu.Unlock() }
+func stackUpdatesForget(name string) { updMu.Lock(); delete(updCache, "stack:"+name); updMu.Unlock() }
+
+// localDigests is what this machine holds for an image: the registry digests it was pulled as.
+func localDigests(ctx context.Context, img string) []string {
+	out, err := dockerRun(ctx, "image", "inspect", "-f", "{{json .RepoDigests}}", img)
+	var have []string
+	if err != nil || json.Unmarshal(bytes.TrimSpace(out), &have) != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return have
+}
+
+func holdsDigest(have []string, digest string) bool {
+	for _, h := range have {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(h, "@"+digest) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// settled is a cached answer brought up to date with what is here now. The registry's side
+// is kept for six hours, but this machine's side changes the moment an update pulls the
+// newer image — so an image marked behind is looked at again locally, which costs no
+// registry request, and is current once it holds the digest the registry named.
+func settled(ctx context.Context, res []imageCheck) []imageCheck {
+	out := make([]imageCheck, len(res))
+	copy(out, res)
+	for i, ic := range out {
+		if ic.State == "update" && ic.remote != "" && holdsDigest(localDigests(ctx, ic.Image), ic.remote) {
+			out[i].State = "current"
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
 
 // checkImages asks the registry whether each image is still the one we hold. Each image is
 // one registry request, which Docker Hub counts — so this is only ever called when asked for.
@@ -775,9 +809,8 @@ func checkImages(ctx context.Context, images []string) []imageCheck {
 	res := []imageCheck{}
 	for _, img := range images {
 		ic := imageCheck{Image: img, State: "unknown"}
-		out, err := dockerRun(ctx, "image", "inspect", "-f", "{{json .RepoDigests}}", img)
-		var have []string
-		if err != nil || json.Unmarshal(bytes.TrimSpace(out), &have) != nil || len(have) == 0 {
+		have := localDigests(ctx, img)
+		if len(have) == 0 {
 			ic.Detail = "built or loaded here, not pulled from a registry"
 			res = append(res, ic)
 			continue
@@ -795,11 +828,9 @@ func checkImages(ctx context.Context, images []string) []imageCheck {
 			res = append(res, ic)
 			continue
 		}
-		ic.State = "update"
-		for _, h := range have {
-			if strings.HasSuffix(h, "@"+digest) {
-				ic.State = "current"
-			}
+		ic.State, ic.remote = "update", digest
+		if holdsDigest(have, digest) {
+			ic.State = "current"
 		}
 		res = append(res, ic)
 	}
@@ -833,7 +864,7 @@ func (s *Server) machineUpdates(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	c, ok := updCache[key]
 	updMu.Unlock()
 	if ok && time.Since(c.at) < 6*time.Hour && !refresh {
-		jsonOK(w, 200, map[string]any{"images": c.res, "checked": c.at.UnixMilli(), "stacks": byImage})
+		jsonOK(w, 200, map[string]any{"images": settled(ctx, c.res), "checked": c.at.UnixMilli(), "stacks": byImage})
 		return
 	}
 	if !refresh {
@@ -863,13 +894,13 @@ func (s *Server) stackUpdates(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		jsonErr(w, 404, err.Error())
 		return
 	}
-	key := st.Name
+	key := "stack:" + st.Name
 	updMu.Lock()
 	c, ok := updCache[key]
 	updMu.Unlock()
 	refresh := r.URL.Query().Get("refresh") == "1"
 	if ok && time.Since(c.at) < 6*time.Hour && !refresh {
-		jsonOK(w, 200, map[string]any{"images": c.res, "checked": c.at.UnixMilli()})
+		jsonOK(w, 200, map[string]any{"images": settled(ctx, c.res), "checked": c.at.UnixMilli()})
 		return
 	}
 	if !refresh {
diff --git a/internal/api/updates_test.go b/internal/api/updates_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a1b3ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/updates_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// fakeDocker puts a `docker` on PATH whose `image inspect` answers with the given RepoDigests.
+func fakeDocker(t *testing.T, digests string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	script := "#!/bin/sh\necho '" + digests + "'\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "docker"), []byte(script), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("PATH", dir)
+}
+
+// An update pulls the newer image: the cached registry answer must not keep calling it behind.
+func TestSettledSeesAPulledImage(t *testing.T) {
+	cached := []imageCheck{
+		{Image: "nginx:alpine", State: "update", remote: "sha256:new"},
+		{Image: "redis:7", State: "current", remote: "sha256:r"},
+		{Image: "local/thing", State: "unknown"},
+	}
+	fakeDocker(t, `["nginx@sha256:new"]`)
+	got := settled(context.Background(), cached)
+	if got[0].State != "current" {
+		t.Fatalf("pulled image still marked %q", got[0].State)
+	}
+	if got[1].State != "current" || got[2].State != "unknown" {
+		t.Fatalf("others changed: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if cached[0].State != "update" {
+		t.Fatal("settled wrote through to the cache")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSettledKeepsAnImageStillBehind(t *testing.T) {
+	fakeDocker(t, `["nginx@sha256:old"]`)
+	got := settled(context.Background(), []imageCheck{{Image: "nginx:alpine", State: "update", remote: "sha256:new"}})
+	if got[0].State != "update" {
+		t.Fatalf("image not yet pulled marked %q", got[0].State)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/web/src/Docker.tsx b/web/src/Docker.tsx
index 4113caf..b12ae64 100644
--- a/web/src/Docker.tsx
+++ b/web/src/Docker.tsx
@@ -414,8 +414,11 @@ export default function Docker() {
   const taken = useMemo(() => { const ports: Record<string, string> = {}; for (const c of d?.containers ?? []) for (const m of (c.ports ?? '').matchAll(/:(\d+)->/g)) ports[m[1]] = c.name; return { names: (d?.containers ?? []).map((c) => c.name), ports } }, [d])
   // What the registry last said about each image, so a container can be marked without
   // asking again. Only ever read from the cache here — checking is a deliberate act.
+  // Re-read after a stack task too: an update changes this machine's side of the answer.
   const [upd, setUpd] = useState<MachineUpdates | null>(null)
+  const readUpd = useCallback(() => { api.machineUpdates().then(setUpd).catch(() => {}) }, [])
   useEffect(() => { api.machineUpdates().then(setUpd).catch(() => setUpd(null)) }, [])
+  const stackChanged = useCallback(() => { load(); readUpd() }, [load, readUpd])
   const imgState = useMemo(() => Object.fromEntries((upd?.images ?? []).map((i) => [i.image, i.state])), [upd])
   const behind = (upd?.images ?? []).filter((i) => i.state === 'update').length
   if (!d) return <div className="dash">{err ? <div className="notice">{err === 'not found' ? "This machine's Ham Lab is older than the Docker tab. Update it from Machines." : err}</div> : <Loading label="Asking Docker…" />}</div>
@@ -492,7 +495,7 @@ export default function Docker() {
       {shownTab === 'containers' && (cur ? <Detail c={cur} live={sensors} onBack={() => setSel('')} onChanged={load} /> : (sel && !selStack ? null : <div className="svc-empty muted">Select a container.</div>))}
       {making && <StackNew key={'new:' + (dup?.name ?? making)} mode={making} from={dup ?? undefined} networks={nets} taken={taken} onClose={() => { setMaking(''); setDup(null) }} onCreated={async (name, deploy) => { setMaking(''); setDup(null); setTab('stacks'); if (deploy) { try { setStartTask({ name, id: (await api.stackAction(name, 'deploy')).id }) } catch (e) { toast(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'failed', 'err') } } else setStartTask(null); await load(); setSel('stack:' + name) }} />}
       {shownTab === 'updates' && <Updates upd={upd} onChecked={setUpd} />}
-      {shownTab === 'stacks' && (selStack ? <StackDetail key={selStack + (startTask?.name === selStack ? startTask.id : '')} name={selStack} startTask={startTask?.name === selStack ? startTask.id : undefined} onBack={() => setSel('')} onChanged={load} onDuplicate={(f) => { setDup(f); setMaking('stack') }} /> : <div className="svc-empty muted">Select a stack to edit its compose file.</div>)}
+      {shownTab === 'stacks' && (selStack ? <StackDetail key={selStack + (startTask?.name === selStack ? startTask.id : '')} name={selStack} startTask={startTask?.name === selStack ? startTask.id : undefined} onBack={() => setSel('')} onChanged={stackChanged} onDuplicate={(f) => { setDup(f); setMaking('stack') }} /> : <div className="svc-empty muted">Select a stack to edit its compose file.</div>)}
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -522,7 +525,7 @@ function Updates({ upd, onChecked }: { upd: MachineUpdates | null; onChecked: (u
   }
   const run = async (j: UpdateJob) => {
     if (!await askYes(`Run “${j.name}” now? It pulls ${j.stack}'s images${j.apply ? ' and deploys them, which restarts its containers' : ', without deploying them'}.`, 'Run now')) return
-    try { await api.runUpdateJob(j.id); toast(`${j.name}: done`); loadJobs() } catch (e) { toast(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'failed', 'err') }
+    try { await api.runUpdateJob(j.id); toast(`${j.name}: done`); loadJobs(); api.machineUpdates().then(onChecked).catch(() => {}) } catch (e) { toast(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'failed', 'err') }
   }
   const remove = async (j: UpdateJob) => {
     if (!await askYes(`Remove the schedule “${j.name}”? Nothing is updated or rolled back — the schedule simply stops.`, 'Remove')) return
@@ -535,7 +538,6 @@ function Updates({ upd, onChecked }: { upd: MachineUpdates | null; onChecked: (u
   // machine at once.
   const [queue, setQueue] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [running, setRunning] = useState<{ stack: string; id: string } | null>(null)
-  const [done, setDone] = useState<string[]>([])
   const stacksFor = useCallback((img: string) => upd?.stacks?.[img] ?? [], [upd])
   const startNext = useCallback(async (rest: string[]) => {
     const next = rest[0]
@@ -548,7 +550,7 @@ function Updates({ upd, onChecked }: { upd: MachineUpdates | null; onChecked: (u
     const uniq = [...new Set(names)]
     if (uniq.length === 0) { toast('nothing here names a stack this console can deploy', 'info'); return }
     if (!await askYes(`Update ${what}?\n\nThis pulls the newer image${uniq.length > 1 ? 's' : ''} and recreates ${uniq.length === 1 ? `the ${uniq[0]} stack` : `these stacks, one at a time: ${uniq.join(', ')}`}. Their containers restart.`, 'Update')) return
-    setDone([]); startNext(uniq)
+    startNext(uniq)
   }
   const behindStacks = [...new Set(behind.flatMap((i) => stacksFor(i.image)))]
   return (
@@ -567,9 +569,9 @@ function Updates({ upd, onChecked }: { upd: MachineUpdates | null; onChecked: (u
           {imgs.filter((i) => i.state !== 'current').map((i) => (
             <div className="row" key={i.image}>
               <span className="k mono small">{i.image}</span>
-              <span className={i.state === 'update' ? 'warn-text' : 'muted small'}>{done.some((d) => stacksFor(i.image).includes(d)) ? <span className="good">updated just now</span> : i.state === 'update' ? 'a newer image is published' : i.detail || 'unknown'}</span>
+              <span className={i.state === 'update' ? 'warn-text' : 'muted small'}>{i.state === 'update' ? 'a newer image is published' : i.detail || 'unknown'}</span>
               <span className="muted small">{stacksFor(i.image).join(' ')}</span>
-              {i.state === 'update' && !done.some((d) => stacksFor(i.image).includes(d)) && (
+              {i.state === 'update' && (
                 <Btn className="btn" disabled={!!running || stacksFor(i.image).length === 0} title={stacksFor(i.image).length ? `pull it and recreate ${stacksFor(i.image).join(', ')}` : 'no stack here uses this image'}
                   onClick={() => updateStacks(stacksFor(i.image), `${i.image}`)}>Update</Btn>
               )}
@@ -581,8 +583,8 @@ function Updates({ upd, onChecked }: { upd: MachineUpdates | null; onChecked: (u
             <div style={{ marginTop: 8 }}>
               <div className="sub-head"><span className="dname">Updating {running.stack}</span><span className="spacer" /><span className="muted small">{queue.length > 0 ? `${queue.length} to follow` : 'last one'}</span></div>
               <TaskOutput id={running.id} onDone={(t) => {
-                if (t.exit_code === 0 && !t.error) setDone((d) => [...d, running.stack])
-                else toast(`${running.stack}: update failed`, 'err')
+                if (t.exit_code !== 0 || t.error) toast(`${running.stack}: update failed`, 'err')
+                api.machineUpdates().then(onChecked).catch(() => {}) // an image now held drops off the list
                 startNext(queue)
               }} />
             </div>