diff --git a/packages/queue/src/store.mjs b/packages/queue/src/store.mjs
index a28a60e87..c8983201d 100644
--- a/packages/queue/src/store.mjs
+++ b/packages/queue/src/store.mjs
@@ -501,6 +501,9 @@ function mutateAs(ctx, { verb, op, args, by, yes = false, derived = false }) {
     const cmp = witnessStep(ctx, loc, cur, { verb, op, args: cargs });
     for (const e of cmp.confirmed) res.err.push(`durable now, never acknowledged: ${e.op} by ${e.by} at ${e.at}`);
     // Step 3: a recorded op answers with its receipt, before any view check.
+    if (verb === "add" && PRIVILEGED.has(actor) && cargs.gateOwner === null) {
+      throw refuse(`${actor} must pass --gate-owner SEAT on add: a privileged add has no default gate owner, so a row never gets a gate nobody meant`);
+    }
     const prior = cur.doc.log.find((e) => e.op === op);
     if (prior) {
       if (prior.verb !== verb || !sameJson(prior.args, cargs)) {
@@ -528,12 +531,10 @@ function mutateAs(ctx, { verb, op, args, by, yes = false, derived = false }) {
     if (view.state === "unknown") throw refuse(unknownMessage(view));
     if (view.state === "stale" && verb !== "accept-history") throw refuse(staleMessage(view, cur.doc.log));
     // A privileged add names its gate owner. There is no default for it: the
-    // Jason default put a gate nobody meant on row 100. This check lives in the
+    // Jason default put a gate nobody meant on a row. This check lives in the
     // write path, not in applyEntry, so replay of old entries is unchanged and an
-    // older reader still loads the log.
-    if (verb === "add" && PRIVILEGED.has(actor) && cargs.gateOwner === null) {
-      throw refuse(`${actor} must pass --gate-owner SEAT on add: a privileged add has no default gate owner, so a row never gets a gate nobody meant (row 100 got jason by default)`);
-    }
+    // older reader still loads the log. It stays below step 3: a retry of an add
+    // recorded before this check answers with its receipt.
     // Step 5.
     const resolved = resolveFor(ctx, loc, cur, verb, cargs, cmp);
     const rev = cur.doc.revision + 1;