Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: Protecting Downstream Systems (ANSWERED)
Rate limiting for agents differs from human API usage — bursts are larger and less predictable.
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Apply per-user/per-tool token buckets at gateway, concurrent job limits on server, model-turn budgets in host, and return structured RATE_LIMITED errors with retry_after — plus circuit breakers when downstream SLOs slip.
The Interview Question
Agents can spam MCP tools in loops. Design rate limiting at the host, gateway, and server layers to protect APIs and control cost.
Deep Explanation
Rate limiting for agents differs from human API usage — bursts are larger and less predictable.
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