diff --git a/pkg/agent/loop_mcp.go b/pkg/agent/loop_mcp.go
index 2795db52a..962789a06 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/loop_mcp.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/loop_mcp.go
@@ -63,6 +63,22 @@ func (al *AgentLoop) ensureMCPInitialized(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if al.cfg.Tools.MCP.Servers == nil || len(al.cfg.Tools.MCP.Servers) == 0 {
+		logger.WarnCF("agent", "MCP is enabled but no servers are configured, skipping MCP initialization", nil)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	findValidServer := false
+	for _, serverCfg := range al.cfg.Tools.MCP.Servers {
+		if serverCfg.Enabled {
+			findValidServer = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !findValidServer {
+		logger.WarnCF("agent", "MCP is enabled but no valid servers are configured, skipping MCP initialization", nil)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	al.mcp.initOnce.Do(func() {
 		mcpManager := mcp.NewManager()
 
diff --git a/pkg/agent/loop_test.go b/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
index cab82e176..1e8d92db8 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/loop_test.go
@@ -770,13 +770,18 @@ func TestAgentLoop_ContextExhaustionRetry(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestProcessDirectWithChannel_InitializesMCPInAgentMode(t *testing.T) {
+// TestProcessDirectWithChannel_TriggersMCPInitialization verifies that
+// ProcessDirectWithChannel triggers MCP initialization when MCP is enabled.
+// Note: Manager is only initialized when at least one MCP server is configured
+// and successfully connected.
+func TestProcessDirectWithChannel_TriggersMCPInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "agent-test-*")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create temp dir: %v", err)
 	}
 	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
 
+	// Test with MCP enabled but no servers - should not initialize manager
 	cfg := &config.Config{
 		Agents: config.AgentsConfig{
 			Defaults: config.AgentDefaults{
@@ -791,6 +796,7 @@ func TestProcessDirectWithChannel_InitializesMCPInAgentMode(t *testing.T) {
 				ToolConfig: config.ToolConfig{
 					Enabled: true,
 				},
+				// No servers configured - manager should not be initialized
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -815,8 +821,9 @@ func TestProcessDirectWithChannel_InitializesMCPInAgentMode(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ProcessDirectWithChannel failed: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if !al.mcp.hasManager() {
-		t.Fatal("expected MCP manager to be initialized in direct agent mode")
+	// Manager should not be initialized when no servers are configured
+	if al.mcp.hasManager() {
+		t.Fatal("expected MCP manager to be nil when no servers are configured")
 	}
 }