diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c891143e..2e23cdd2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "githits",
   "description": "CLI companion for GitHits - code examples from global open source for developers and AI assistants",
-  "version": "0.1.1",
+  "version": "0.1.2",
   "type": "module",
   "files": [
     "dist",
diff --git a/src/commands/mcp.test.ts b/src/commands/mcp.test.ts
index dd4244d3..5abb0047 100644
--- a/src/commands/mcp.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/mcp.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, spyOn } from "bun:test";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "bun:test";
 import type { Dependencies } from "../container.js";
 import {
   createMockAuthService,
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import {
   createMockFileSystemService,
   createMockGitHitsService,
 } from "../services/test-helpers.js";
-import { AuthRequiredError } from "../shared/require-auth.js";
 import { createMcpServer, startMcpServer } from "./mcp.js";
 
 function createTestDeps(overrides: Partial<Dependencies> = {}): Dependencies {
@@ -45,12 +44,11 @@ describe("createMcpServer", () => {
 });
 
 describe("startMcpServer", () => {
-  it("throws AuthRequiredError on auth failure", async () => {
-    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+  it("starts successfully without a valid token", async () => {
     const deps = createTestDeps({ hasValidToken: false });
 
-    await expect(startMcpServer(deps)).rejects.toThrow(AuthRequiredError);
-
-    consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    // Server should start and connect transport without throwing.
+    // Auth errors are deferred to individual tool calls.
+    await expect(startMcpServer(deps)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/commands/mcp.ts b/src/commands/mcp.ts
index 2158f403..387c879a 100644
--- a/src/commands/mcp.ts
+++ b/src/commands/mcp.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import type { Command } from "commander";
 import { version } from "../../package.json";
 import { createContainer, type Dependencies } from "../container.js";
 import { dim, highlight, shouldUseColors } from "../shared/colors.js";
-import { AuthRequiredError, requireAuth } from "../shared/require-auth.js";
 import {
   createFeedbackTool,
   createSearchLanguageTool,
@@ -44,8 +43,6 @@ export function createMcpServer(deps: Dependencies): McpServer {
  * Start the MCP server. Exported for testability.
  */
 export async function startMcpServer(deps: Dependencies): Promise<void> {
-  requireAuth(deps, "to start MCP server");
-
   const server = createMcpServer(deps);
   const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
   await server.connect(transport);
@@ -101,13 +98,8 @@ Available tools: search, search_language, feedback`,
         showMcpSetupInstructions();
         return;
       }
-      try {
-        const deps = await createContainer();
-        await startMcpServer(deps);
-      } catch (error) {
-        if (error instanceof AuthRequiredError) process.exit(1);
-        throw error;
-      }
+      const deps = await createContainer();
+      await startMcpServer(deps);
     });
 
   mcpCommand
@@ -120,12 +112,7 @@ This command explicitly starts the server and is intended for use
 in MCP configuration files. Use 'githits mcp' for interactive setup.`,
     )
     .action(async () => {
-      try {
-        const deps = await createContainer();
-        await startMcpServer(deps);
-      } catch (error) {
-        if (error instanceof AuthRequiredError) process.exit(1);
-        throw error;
-      }
+      const deps = await createContainer();
+      await startMcpServer(deps);
     });
 }