diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index dbc8924..85263d0 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: the refused-query test sends one query to four operators' public
+  resolvers in turn until one replies, not eight to one operator (closes #251).
 - 2026-10-02: a name removed from `DNSWATCHER_TARGETS` leaves the state, and so
   the dashboard and API, at startup, before the first check (closes #223).
 - 2026-10-02: a record type whose query to a nameserver fails keeps its previous
diff --git a/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go b/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
index 94a2fa0..9399a1e 100644
--- a/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
+++ b/internal/resolver/resolver_test.go
@@ -442,48 +442,45 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_Refused(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "server returned REFUSED", resp.Error)
 }
 
-// TestQueryNameserverIP_RecursiveResolverRefused asks Quad9, a public
-// recursive resolver, about google.com at both of its addresses. Quad9
-// refuses a query that does not ask for recursion and answers one that
-// does. The resolver never asks for recursion, so it must be reported
-// as refusing, never as answering.
-func TestQueryNameserverIP_RecursiveResolverRefused(t *testing.T) {
+// TestQueryServers_RecursiveResolverRefused passes a public recursive
+// resolver to QueryServers as the server of google.com. These resolvers
+// refuse a query that does not ask for recursion and answer one that
+// does. The resolver never asks for recursion, so the query must be
+// reported as refused, never answered. Each resolver is run by a
+// different operator, and they are asked in turn until one replies, so
+// one operator not answering does not fail the test.
+func TestQueryServers_RecursiveResolverRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	r := newTestResolver(t)
-
-	for _, ip := range []string{"9.9.9.9", "149.112.112.112"} {
-		var resp *resolver.NameserverResponse
-
-		livednstest.Retry(
-			t,
-			"QueryNameserverIP("+ip+", google.com)",
-			func(ctx context.Context) error {
-				var err error
-
-				resp, err = r.QueryNameserverIP(
-					ctx, ip, ip, "google.com",
-				)
-				if err != nil {
-					return err
-				}
-
-				// A timeout or a network error is no reply at all.
-				if resp.Status == resolver.StatusTimeout ||
-					strings.HasPrefix(resp.Error, "network error") {
-					return fmt.Errorf(
-						"%w: %s: %s",
-						livednstest.ErrNoAnswer, ip, resp.Error,
-					)
-				}
-
-				return nil
-			},
-		)
-
-		assert.Equal(t, resolver.StatusError, resp.Status, ip)
-		assert.Equal(t, "server returned REFUSED", resp.Error, ip)
+	resolvers := []string{
+		"64.6.64.6", "185.222.222.222", "4.2.2.1", "9.9.9.9",
 	}
+
+	var err error
+
+	livednstest.Retry(
+		t,
+		"QueryServers(public recursive resolvers, google.com)",
+		func(ctx context.Context) error {
+			for _, ip := range resolvers {
+				_, err = r.QueryServers(
+					ctx, []string{ip}, "google.com.", "google.com.",
+					dns.TypeA,
+				)
+
+				// A refusal or an answer is a reply; anything else may
+				// be no reply at all, so the next resolver is asked.
+				if err == nil || errors.Is(err, resolver.ErrRefused) {
+					return nil
+				}
+			}
+
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", livednstest.ErrNoAnswer, err)
+		},
+	)
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, resolver.ErrRefused)
 }
 
 // googleNameserverIPv4s returns the IPv4 addresses of google.com's