diff --git a/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h b/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h
index cdcbf156..6e2b23e9 100644
--- a/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h
+++ b/kernel/include/starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 #ifndef STARKERNEL_V4_SK_V4_MINT_H
 #define STARKERNEL_V4_SK_V4_MINT_H
 
+#include <stdint.h>
+
 /* The whole of STICK.md 6a's minting: asks for a stick, shows its size, writes
  * nothing until YES, then a GPT and a fresh Zuse identity on it, read back,
  * and only then the real key in the genesis marker. 0 when she is minted;
@@ -16,4 +18,8 @@
  * MINT-ZUSE word, and (Task 5) the fixed screen's R. */
 int sk_v4_mint_zuse(void);
 
+/* The same, with Zuse's seed and its read-back in `seeds` (64 bytes), owned by the caller: on every
+ * return the 64 bytes are zero (#176). */
+int sk_v4_mint_zuse_with(uint8_t seeds[64]);
+
 #endif /* STARKERNEL_V4_SK_V4_MINT_H */
diff --git a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c
index ad706ec2..d9b9cce8 100644
--- a/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c
+++ b/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ static int erased(void)                 /* its old partition table is gone (#168
     return -1;
 }
 
-int sk_v4_mint_zuse(void)
+/* The mint, with Zuse's seed and its read-back in `seeds`, which the caller owns: seed is its first
+ * 32 bytes, rseed the next 32. Called only by sk_v4_mint_zuse_with, which wipes `seeds` after it
+ * whichever way it returned (#176). */
+static int mint(uint8_t seeds[64])
 {
     static blkio_dev_t      part;
     static gpt_part_dev_t   part_state;
@@ -89,7 +92,8 @@ int sk_v4_mint_zuse(void)
     static uint8_t          zero[BLKIO_FORTH_BLOCK_SIZE];
     blkio_dev_t            *raw;
     uint64_t                bytes, sectors;
-    uint8_t                 guid[16], seed[32], pub[32], rseed[32], rpub[32];
+    uint8_t                 guid[16], pub[32], rpub[32];
+    uint8_t                *seed = seeds, *rseed = seeds + 32;
     homeblocks_sig_t        sig;
     homeblocks_sig_result_t sig_rc;
     sk_v4_marker_t          m;
@@ -148,10 +152,25 @@ int sk_v4_mint_zuse(void)
     m.has_real = 1;
     if (sk_v4_marker_write(&m) != 0) return erased();
     sk_v4_identity_set_marker(&m);
-    memset(seed, 0, sizeof seed);
-    memset(rseed, 0, sizeof rseed);
+    memset(seeds, 0, 64);
 
     console_println("Zuse: real Zuse minted onto the second stick");
     sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered();
     return 0;
 }
+
+/* One place wipes the seeds, after every return of the mint -- its refusals, each failure after
+ * YES, and success alike. They were wiped on success only, and left in memory on every other way
+ * out (#176). */
+int sk_v4_mint_zuse_with(uint8_t seeds[64])
+{
+    int rc = mint(seeds);
+    memset(seeds, 0, 64);
+    return rc;
+}
+
+int sk_v4_mint_zuse(void)
+{
+    static uint8_t seeds[64];
+    return sk_v4_mint_zuse_with(seeds);
+}
diff --git a/kernel/tests/Makefile b/kernel/tests/Makefile
index 616e12e7..c6fb3f81 100644
--- a/kernel/tests/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/tests/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ CC     ?= cc
 CFLAGS := -std=c99 -Wall -Wextra -Werror -O2 -g -I$(HERE) -I$(ROOT)/kernel/include \
           -I$(ROOT)/kernel/include/starkernel -I$(ROOT)/v3/include
 
-TESTS := test_gpt test_usb_config test_sk_v4_stop test_sk_v4_slots
+TESTS := test_gpt test_usb_config test_sk_v4_stop test_sk_v4_slots test_sk_v4_mint
+SRC_test_sk_v4_mint := $(ROOT)/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c $(ROOT)/kernel/src/gpt.c
+EXTRA_test_sk_v4_mint := -D__STARKERNEL__ -I$(ROOT)/v4/include
 SRC_test_sk_v4_slots := $(ROOT)/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_slots.c
 SRC_test_sk_v4_stop := $(ROOT)/kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_stop.c
 SRC_test_gpt := $(ROOT)/kernel/src/gpt.c
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ SRC_test_usb_config := $(ROOT)/kernel/src/usb/usb_config.c
 define TEST_RULE
 $(BUILD)/$(1): $(HERE)/$(1).c $(HERE)/fakes.c $(HERE)/fakes.h $(HERE)/harness.h $$(SRC_$(1))
 	@mkdir -p $(BUILD)
-	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(HERE)/$(1).c $(HERE)/fakes.c $$(SRC_$(1)) -o $$@
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $$(EXTRA_$(1)) $(HERE)/$(1).c $(HERE)/fakes.c $$(SRC_$(1)) -o $$@
 
 .PHONY: run-$(1)
 run-$(1): $(BUILD)/$(1)
diff --git a/kernel/tests/test_sk_v4_mint.c b/kernel/tests/test_sk_v4_mint.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..350506ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/tests/test_sk_v4_mint.c
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Starship-1.0
+ * Copyright (c) 2023-2026 Robert A. James
+ */
+/* test_sk_v4_mint.c -- kernel/src/v4/sk_v4_mint.c on the host (#176): Zuse's seed and its read-back
+ * are wiped on every return of the mint, not only on success. The caller owns the 64-byte buffer
+ * (sk_v4_mint_zuse_with); each case fills it with 0xEE, runs the mint to one of its exits, and
+ * checks it is all zero after. The real gpt.c on the harness's RAM disk; the identity code, the key
+ * mint, the signature checks, the marker and the keyboard faked.
+ */
+#include "harness.h"
+#include "fakes.h"
+#include "starkernel/gpt.h"
+#include "starkernel/capsule_zuse_boot.h"
+#include "starkernel/homeblocks_sig.h"
+#include "starkernel/v4/sk_v4_mint.h"
+#include "starkernel/v4/sk_v4_marker.h"
+#include <string.h>
+
+/* ---- the scenario ---- */
+static blkio_dev_t    stick;
+static fake_disk      disk;
+static int            offer, mint_rc, key_hers, marker_present, marker_rc;
+static const char    *typed; static unsigned typed_at;
+static sk_v4_marker_t marker, written;
+
+/* ---- the fakes the mint calls ---- */
+int  sk_v4_identity_offer_wait(blkio_dev_t **raw, uint64_t *bytes) { *raw = &stick; *bytes = (uint64_t)disk.blocks * 1024u; return offer; }
+int  sk_v4_identity_stick_in(void) { return 1; }
+int  sk_v4_identity_offered_present(void) { return 1; }
+void sk_v4_identity_release_offered(void) { }
+void sk_v4_identity_recheck_offered(void) { }
+void sk_v4_identity_beat(void) { }
+const sk_v4_marker_t *sk_v4_identity_marker(void) { marker.present = marker_present; return &marker; }
+void sk_v4_identity_set_marker(const sk_v4_marker_t *m) { marker = *m; }
+int  sk_v4_marker_write(const sk_v4_marker_t *m) { written = *m; return marker_rc; }
+int  sk_input_getc(void) { return (typed && typed[typed_at]) ? (unsigned char)typed[typed_at++] : -1; }
+void arch_halt(void) { }
+int capsule_zuse_boot_genesis_mint(struct blkio_dev *dev, uint8_t seed[32], uint8_t pubkey[32])
+{
+    (void)dev; memset(seed, 0x5A, 32); memset(pubkey, 0x11, 32);   /* the seed is in the buffer even when it then fails */
+    return mint_rc;
+}
+homeblocks_sig_result_t homeblocks_sig_check(struct blkio_dev *dev, uint32_t start_fblock, homeblocks_sig_t *out)
+{
+    (void)dev; (void)start_fblock; memset(out, 0, sizeof *out); return (homeblocks_sig_result_t)0;
+}
+zuse_drive_t capsule_zuse_boot_check_key(struct blkio_dev *dev, homeblocks_sig_result_t sig_rc, const homeblocks_sig_t *sig,
+                                         const uint8_t want[32], uint8_t seed[32], uint8_t pubkey[32])
+{
+    (void)dev; (void)sig_rc; (void)sig; (void)want;
+    memset(seed, 0x5A, 32); memset(pubkey, 0x11, 32);                 /* read back, as minted */
+    return key_hers ? ZUSE_DRIVE_HERS : (zuse_drive_t)(ZUSE_DRIVE_HERS + 1);
+}
+
+static int all_zero(const uint8_t *p, unsigned n) { unsigned i; for (i = 0; i < n; i++) if (p[i]) return 0; return 1; }
+
+/* run the mint once: the scenario, then the buffer must be zero */
+static void run(const char *what, int offer_, uint32_t blocks, const char *typed_, int mint_rc_, int hers, int present, int mrc, int want_rc)
+{
+    uint8_t seeds[64];
+    int rc;
+    fake_disk_open(&stick, &disk, blocks);
+    offer = offer_; typed = typed_; typed_at = 0; mint_rc = mint_rc_; key_hers = hers; marker_present = present; marker_rc = mrc;
+    memset(&marker, 0, sizeof marker); memset(seeds, 0xEE, sizeof seeds);
+    fake_console_reset();
+    rc = sk_v4_mint_zuse_with(seeds);
+    CHECK(rc == want_rc, "%s: returns %d (got %d)", what, want_rc, rc);
+    CHECK(all_zero(seeds, 64), "#176: %s -- the seed buffer is zero after", what);
+    fake_disk_free(&disk);
+}
+
+int main(void)
+{
+    const uint32_t BIG = 70000u, SMALL = 1000u;    /* 1 KiB blocks: 68 MiB, and under the 64 MiB the mint wants */
+
+    fake_rng_reset();
+    run("no stick offered",           0, BIG,   "YES\r", 0, 1, 1, 0, -1);
+    run("a stick under 64 MiB",       1, SMALL, "YES\r", 0, 1, 1, 0, -1);
+    run("not YES",                    1, BIG,   "no\r",  0, 1, 1, 0, -1);
+    run("the key mint fails",         1, BIG,   "YES\r", -1, 1, 1, 0, -1);
+    run("the read-back is not hers",  1, BIG,   "YES\r", 0, 0, 1, 0, -1);
+    run("no marker on the system stick", 1, BIG, "YES\r", 0, 1, 0, 0, -1);
+    run("the marker write fails",     1, BIG,   "YES\r", 0, 1, 1, -1, -1);
+    run("minted",                     1, BIG,   "YES\r", 0, 1, 1, 0, 0);
+    CHECK(written.has_real == 1 && written.real[0] == 0x11, "minted: the marker names the real Zuse's key");
+    return DONE();
+}
diff --git a/logs/20261112-181719/kernel-tests/test_sk_v4_mint.log b/logs/20261112-181719/kernel-tests/test_sk_v4_mint.log
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3ea4c692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logs/20261112-181719/kernel-tests/test_sk_v4_mint.log
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:9f4ae28a84b61c501dc1c26861a90461b41bce9f899d939505a86babe9c1939f
+size 1096