diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index b16b1d57..c7649620 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install pyyaml>=6.0 pytest pytest-timeout
+          pip install pyyaml>=6.0 pytest pytest-timeout pytest-asyncio
+          # Install the `mcp` package so tests/test_mcp_server.py runs in CI.
+          # The package is an optional runtime dep of mcp_server.py — users
+          # who run the MCP integration install it themselves; CI installs
+          # it so test coverage exists. If mcp install fails (Python 3.13
+          # wheel not yet available, etc.), tests/test_mcp_server.py uses
+          # importorskip and the matrix stays green.
+          pip install mcp || echo "mcp install failed — test_mcp_server.py will importorskip"
 
       - name: Run tests
         run: pytest tests/ -v --timeout=60
diff --git a/tests/test_mcp_server.py b/tests/test_mcp_server.py
index 291a1d01..98e2a0b2 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_mcp_server.py
@@ -17,6 +17,17 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
+# Skip the entire module when the optional `mcp` package isn't installed.
+# CI runs with stdlib-only deps (pyyaml + pytest + pytest-timeout), and the
+# `mcp` package is only required for users who actually run the MCP server.
+# Locally with `pip install mcp pytest-asyncio` these tests run; on CI they
+# skip cleanly without breaking the matrix.
+pytest.importorskip("mcp", reason="mcp package not installed (optional MCP server dep)")
+
+# pytest-asyncio is also optional but always installed alongside mcp tests
+# in our local runs. If absent, importorskip the asyncio plugin gracefully.
+pytest.importorskip("pytest_asyncio", reason="pytest-asyncio required for MCP server tests")
+
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.asyncio
 
 # ── Ensure repo root on path ──────────────────────────────────────────────