diff --git a/solstone/apps/thinking/static/thinking.js b/solstone/apps/thinking/static/thinking.js
index aff3643e3..9ecdf9128 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/thinking/static/thinking.js
+++ b/solstone/apps/thinking/static/thinking.js
@@ -225,6 +225,20 @@
     return {text: message, hidden: !message};
   }
 
+  function confidentialSetupOperationLines(operation, text, attestationMessage = '') {
+    const rendered = confidentialOperationRender(operation, text);
+    const notice = confidentialNoticeLine(operation, text);
+    if (!notice.hidden) {
+      return {state: attestationMessage, operation: '', operationTone: '', notice};
+    }
+    return {
+      state: rendered.message || attestationMessage,
+      operation: rendered.message || '',
+      operationTone: rendered.tone,
+      notice,
+    };
+  }
+
   function confidentialAttestationRender(attestation, text, checkedLabel = '') {
     const stateName = attestation?.state || 'off';
     const states = text?.attestation_states || {};
@@ -766,7 +780,7 @@
     const confidentialCopy = copy.confidential || {};
     const checked = confidentialCheckedLabel(attestation);
     const rendered = confidentialAttestationRender(attestation, confidentialCopy, checked);
-    const operationRendered = confidentialOperationRender(operation, confidentialCopy);
+    const lines = confidentialSetupOperationLines(operation, confidentialCopy, rendered.message);
     const operationActive = !!operation && !confidentialOperationIsTerminal(operation);
     const phase = operation?.phase || '';
 
@@ -776,22 +790,21 @@
       operationActive ? phase : rendered.pill,
       operationActive ? '' : rendered.tone,
     );
-    setText('confidentialSetupState', operationRendered.message || rendered.message);
+    setText('confidentialSetupState', lines.state);
     const lastChecked = relativeTime(attestation.last_verified?.checked_at || '');
     setText('confidentialSetupMeta', confidentialSetupMetaLine(attestation, lastChecked));
     setMessage(
       'confidentialLaneOperation',
-      operationRendered.message || '',
-      operationRendered.tone,
+      lines.operation,
+      lines.operationTone,
     );
     setLink(
       'confidentialLaneOperationLink',
       operation?.portal_url || '',
       'continue in browser →',
     );
-    const notice = confidentialNoticeLine(operation, confidentialCopy);
-    setText('confidentialNotice', notice.text);
-    setHidden('confidentialNotice', notice.hidden);
+    setText('confidentialNotice', lines.notice.text);
+    setHidden('confidentialNotice', lines.notice.hidden);
     setButtonState('confidentialEnable', !configured && !operationActive, operationActive);
     setButtonText('confidentialEnable', confidentialCopy.actions?.off || '');
     setButtonState('confidentialDisable', configured, operationActive || !configured);
diff --git a/solstone/apps/thinking/tests/test_thinking_confidential_poll_js.py b/solstone/apps/thinking/tests/test_thinking_confidential_poll_js.py
index 8261e9424..7e4056a34 100644
--- a/solstone/apps/thinking/tests/test_thinking_confidential_poll_js.py
+++ b/solstone/apps/thinking/tests/test_thinking_confidential_poll_js.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def _node_script(body: str) -> str:
         extract_js_function(source, "confidentialVerifiedValues"),
         extract_js_function(source, "confidentialSetupMetaLine"),
         extract_js_function(source, "confidentialNoticeLine"),
+        extract_js_function(source, "confidentialSetupOperationLines"),
         extract_js_function(source, "confidentialAttestationRender"),
         extract_js_function(source, "clearConfidentialInProgressOperation"),
         extract_js_function(source, "confidentialGlanceForAttestation"),
@@ -151,6 +152,31 @@ for (const operation of [
   assert(notice.hidden === true, `notice hidden for ${operation?.phase || 'none'}`);
 }
 
+const earlyLines = confidentialSetupOperationLines(
+  {phase: 'early_access'},
+  confidentialCopy,
+  '',
+);
+const earlySentence = 'confidential processing is coming — scouts get it first.';
+assert(earlyLines.state === '', 'early access absent from state line');
+assert(earlyLines.operation === '', 'early access absent from operation line');
+assert(earlyLines.notice.text === earlySentence, 'early access assigned to notice');
+assert(
+  [earlyLines.state, earlyLines.operation, earlyLines.notice.text]
+    .filter((line) => line === earlySentence).length === 1,
+  'early access visible exactly once',
+);
+
+for (const [phase, message] of [
+  ['starting', 'opening your browser to confirm…'],
+  ['waiting', 'finish turning it on in your browser'],
+]) {
+  const lines = confidentialSetupOperationLines({phase}, confidentialCopy, 'attestation');
+  assert(lines.state === message, `${phase} state unchanged`);
+  assert(lines.operation === message, `${phase} operation unchanged`);
+  assert(lines.notice.hidden === true, `${phase} notice hidden`);
+}
+
 for (const provenance of [
   {substrate, checked_at: '2026-07-12T12:00:00+00:00'},
   {legs: ['cpu', 'gpu'], substrate: '   ', checked_at: '2026-07-12T12:00:00+00:00'},