diff --git a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
index 4a7f86ab..9e9a3ced 100644
--- a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
@@ -3790,6 +3790,7 @@ fn render_mcp_server_report(
         format!("  Working directory {}", cwd.display()),
         format!("  Name              {server_name}"),
         format!("  Scope             {}", config_source_label(server.scope)),
+        format!("  Required          {}", server.required),
         format!(
             "  Transport         {}",
             mcp_transport_label(&server.config)
@@ -5584,6 +5585,7 @@ mod tests {
                   "command": "uvx",
                   "args": ["alpha-server"],
                   "env": {"ALPHA_TOKEN": "secret"},
+                  "required": true,
                   "toolCallTimeoutMs": 1200
                 },
                 "remote": {
@@ -5629,6 +5631,7 @@ mod tests {
         let show = super::render_mcp_report_for(&loader, &workspace, Some("show alpha"))
             .expect("mcp show report should render");
         assert!(show.contains("Name              alpha"));
+        assert!(show.contains("Required          true"));
         assert!(show.contains("Command           uvx"));
         assert!(show.contains("Args              alpha-server"));
         assert!(show.contains("Env keys          ALPHA_TOKEN"));
@@ -5661,6 +5664,7 @@ mod tests {
                   "command": "uvx",
                   "args": ["alpha-server"],
                   "env": {"ALPHA_TOKEN": "secret"},
+                  "required": true,
                   "toolCallTimeoutMs": 1200
                 },
                 "remote": {
@@ -5697,6 +5701,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(list["action"], "list");
         assert_eq!(list["configured_servers"], 2);
         assert_eq!(list["servers"][0]["name"], "alpha");
+        assert_eq!(list["servers"][0]["required"], true);
         assert_eq!(list["servers"][0]["transport"]["id"], "stdio");
         assert_eq!(list["servers"][0]["details"]["command"], "uvx");
         assert_eq!(list["servers"][1]["name"], "remote");
@@ -5712,6 +5717,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(show["action"], "show");
         assert_eq!(show["found"], true);
         assert_eq!(show["server"]["name"], "alpha");
+        assert_eq!(show["server"]["required"], true);
         assert_eq!(show["server"]["details"]["env_keys"][0], "ALPHA_TOKEN");
         assert_eq!(show["server"]["details"]["tool_call_timeout_ms"], 1200);
 
diff --git a/rust/crates/runtime/src/config.rs b/rust/crates/runtime/src/config.rs
index a38cc562..b9a9e36a 100644
--- a/rust/crates/runtime/src/config.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/runtime/src/config.rs
@@ -1617,7 +1617,8 @@ mod tests {
                 "stdio-server": {
                   "command": "uvx",
                   "args": ["mcp-server"],
-                  "env": {"TOKEN": "secret"}
+                  "env": {"TOKEN": "secret"},
+                  "required": true
                 },
                 "remote-server": {
                   "type": "http",
@@ -1666,6 +1667,7 @@ mod tests {
             .get("stdio-server")
             .expect("stdio server should exist");
         assert_eq!(stdio_server.scope, ConfigSource::User);
+        assert!(stdio_server.required);
         assert_eq!(stdio_server.transport(), McpTransport::Stdio);
 
         let remote_server = loaded
@@ -1673,6 +1675,7 @@ mod tests {
             .get("remote-server")
             .expect("remote server should exist");
         assert_eq!(remote_server.scope, ConfigSource::Local);
+        assert!(!remote_server.required);
         assert_eq!(remote_server.transport(), McpTransport::Ws);
         match &remote_server.config {
             McpServerConfig::Ws(config) => {
diff --git a/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp.rs b/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp.rs
index 6e2a13b8..64500e8e 100644
--- a/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub fn scoped_mcp_config_hash(config: &ScopedMcpServerConfig) -> String {
             format!("claudeai-proxy|{}|{}", proxy.url, proxy.id)
         }
     };
-    stable_hex_hash(&rendered)
+    stable_hex_hash(&format!("required:{}|{rendered}", config.required))
 }
 
 fn render_command_signature(command: &[String]) -> String {
diff --git a/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp_stdio.rs b/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp_stdio.rs
index e125f660..b05ea447 100644
--- a/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp_stdio.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/runtime/src/mcp_stdio.rs
@@ -2726,7 +2726,7 @@ mod tests {
                 (
                     "broken".to_string(),
                     ScopedMcpServerConfig {
-                        required: false,
+                        required: true,
                         scope: ConfigSource::Local,
                         config: McpServerConfig::Stdio(McpStdioServerConfig {
                             command: broken_script_path.display().to_string(),
@@ -2748,6 +2748,7 @@ mod tests {
             );
             assert_eq!(report.failed_servers.len(), 1);
             assert_eq!(report.failed_servers[0].server_name, "broken");
+            assert!(report.failed_servers[0].required);
             assert_eq!(
                 report.failed_servers[0].phase,
                 McpLifecyclePhase::InitializeHandshake
@@ -2768,6 +2769,14 @@ mod tests {
             assert_eq!(degraded.working_servers, vec!["alpha".to_string()]);
             assert_eq!(degraded.failed_servers.len(), 1);
             assert_eq!(degraded.failed_servers[0].server_name, "broken");
+            assert_eq!(
+                degraded.failed_servers[0]
+                    .error
+                    .context
+                    .get("required")
+                    .map(String::as_str),
+                Some("true")
+            );
             assert_eq!(
                 degraded.failed_servers[0].phase,
                 McpLifecyclePhase::InitializeHandshake
@@ -2803,7 +2812,7 @@ mod tests {
             (
                 "http".to_string(),
                 ScopedMcpServerConfig {
-                    required: false,
+                    required: true,
                     scope: ConfigSource::Local,
                     config: McpServerConfig::Http(McpRemoteServerConfig {
                         url: "https://example.test/mcp".to_string(),
@@ -2842,11 +2851,14 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert_eq!(unsupported.len(), 3);
         assert_eq!(unsupported[0].server_name, "http");
+        assert!(unsupported[0].required);
         assert_eq!(unsupported[1].server_name, "sdk");
         assert_eq!(unsupported[2].server_name, "ws");
+        let failed = unsupported_server_failed_server(&unsupported[0]);
+        assert_eq!(failed.phase, McpLifecyclePhase::ServerRegistration);
         assert_eq!(
-            unsupported_server_failed_server(&unsupported[0]).phase,
-            McpLifecyclePhase::ServerRegistration
+            failed.error.context.get("required").map(String::as_str),
+            Some("true")
         );
     }