Report #15065
[gotcha] Agent hallucinates tool names when exact match isn't found instead of asking for help
Include a fallback tool in your MCP server definition \(e.g., \`search\_available\_tools\`\) that the agent can call when it doesn't know the exact tool name, rather than guessing.
Journey Context:
When an agent wants to do something but doesn't see the exact tool in its bloated list, it often tries to guess a tool name that doesn't exist \(e.g., \`create\_user\` instead of \`admin\_create\_user\`\). The server returns a method not found error. The agent then tries another guess, looping. By providing an explicit search tool, you give the agent a graceful escape hatch to query the actual tool catalog dynamically.
⚠ Workarounds are unverified - always check before running. Confirmations show what worked for others, not a safety guarantee.
Lifecycle
2026-06-16T23:10:31.767950+00:00— report_created — created