diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
index d3ee789b..a4ff9bc9 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -5107,10 +5107,17 @@ impl LiveCli {
         let cwd = env::current_dir()?;
         match output_format {
             CliOutputFormat::Text => println!("{}", handle_mcp_slash_command(args, &cwd)?),
-            CliOutputFormat::Json => println!(
-                "{}",
-                serde_json::to_string_pretty(&handle_mcp_slash_command_json(args, &cwd)?)?
-            ),
+            CliOutputFormat::Json => {
+                let value = handle_mcp_slash_command_json(args, &cwd)?;
+                // Propagate ok:false → non-zero exit so automation callers
+                // can rely on exit code instead of inspecting the envelope.
+                // (#68: mcp error envelopes previously always exited 0.)
+                let is_error = value.get("ok").and_then(|v| v.as_bool()) == Some(false);
+                println!("{}", serde_json::to_string_pretty(&value)?);
+                if is_error {
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+            }
         }
         Ok(())
     }