diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 596ca42..927a598 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ trial run of the finished image: https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/dnswatcher/issues/149
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-02: a resolver test that reads one record type from a nameserver's
+  answer asks again when that type is missing from it (closes #218).
 - 2026-10-02: a plain `docker build .` of a clone stamps its tag or short
   commit, not `dev`: the build context now carries `.git` (closes #210).
 - 2026-10-02: a query a server refuses is not resent asking for recursion, and
diff --git a/internal/resolver/livedns_test.go b/internal/resolver/livedns_test.go
index 0bbccb4..59f95ca 100644
--- a/internal/resolver/livedns_test.go
+++ b/internal/resolver/livedns_test.go
@@ -226,11 +226,17 @@ func liveLookupNS(
 // liveQueryNameserver queries one nameserver, retrying while that
 // nameserver fails to answer. NXDOMAIN and NODATA are answers and
 // are returned to the caller to assert on.
+//
+// QueryNameserver sends one query per record type, so one lost query
+// leaves its type out of an answer that is otherwise fine. A test names
+// in types the record types it reads; an answer holding records of none
+// of them is retried too.
 func liveQueryNameserver(
 	t *testing.T,
 	r *resolver.Resolver,
 	nameserver string,
 	hostname string,
+	types ...string,
 ) *resolver.NameserverResponse {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -260,6 +266,18 @@ func liveQueryNameserver(
 				)
 			}
 
+			hasRecords := func(recordType string) bool {
+				return len(resp.Records[recordType]) > 0
+			}
+
+			if len(types) > 0 && !slices.ContainsFunc(types, hasRecords) {
+				return fmt.Errorf(
+					"%w: %s returned no %s records",
+					livednstest.ErrNoAnswer, nameserver,
+					strings.Join(types, " or "),
+				)
+			}
+
 			out = resp
 
 			return nil
diff --git a/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go b/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
index e928a35..a07c718 100644
--- a/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
+++ b/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_BasicA(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := newTestResolver(t)
 	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "google.com")
-	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "www.google.com")
+	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "www.google.com", "A", "CNAME")
 
 	require.NotNil(t, resp)
 
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_AAAA(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := newTestResolver(t)
 	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "cloudflare.com")
-	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "cloudflare.com")
+	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "cloudflare.com", "AAAA")
 
 	aaaaRecords := resp.Records["AAAA"]
 	require.NotEmpty(t, aaaaRecords,
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_MX(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := newTestResolver(t)
 	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "google.com")
-	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "google.com")
+	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "google.com", "MX")
 
 	mxRecords := resp.Records["MX"]
 	require.NotEmpty(t, mxRecords,
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_TXT(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := newTestResolver(t)
 	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "google.com")
-	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "google.com")
+	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "google.com", "TXT")
 
 	txtRecords := resp.Records["TXT"]
 	require.NotEmpty(t, txtRecords,