diff --git a/crates/rmcp/src/model/serde_impl.rs b/crates/rmcp/src/model/serde_impl.rs
index 8b88b5e0..c262d6ac 100644
--- a/crates/rmcp/src/model/serde_impl.rs
+++ b/crates/rmcp/src/model/serde_impl.rs
@@ -6,14 +6,61 @@ use super::{
     CustomNotification, CustomRequest, Extensions, Meta, Notification, NotificationNoParam,
     Request, RequestNoParam, RequestOptionalParam,
 };
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
 struct WithMeta<'a, P> {
-    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     _meta: Option<Cow<'a, Meta>>,
     #[serde(flatten)]
     _rest: P,
 }
 
+impl<P: Serialize> Serialize for WithMeta<'_, P> {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: serde::Serializer,
+    {
+        use serde::ser::SerializeMap;
+
+        // Serialize _rest to a Value so we can inspect and strip any duplicate _meta
+        let mut rest_value =
+            serde_json::to_value(&self._rest).map_err(serde::ser::Error::custom)?;
+
+        // Extract _meta from the serialized params (if it's an object containing one)
+        let params_meta: Option<Meta> = rest_value
+            .as_object_mut()
+            .and_then(|obj| obj.remove("_meta"))
+            .and_then(|v| serde_json::from_value(v).ok());
+
+        // Merge: params-level _meta as base, extensions-level _meta overwrites on conflict
+        let merged_meta = match (self._meta.as_deref(), params_meta) {
+            (Some(ext_meta), Some(mut params_meta)) => {
+                params_meta.extend(ext_meta.clone());
+                Some(params_meta)
+            }
+            (Some(ext_meta), None) => Some(ext_meta.clone()),
+            (None, Some(params_meta)) => Some(params_meta),
+            (None, None) => None,
+        };
+
+        // Serialize as a flat map: single _meta + remaining params fields
+        let rest_obj = match rest_value {
+            serde_json::Value::Object(map) => map,
+            _ => serde_json::Map::new(),
+        };
+        let meta_count = usize::from(merged_meta.is_some());
+        let mut map = serializer.serialize_map(Some(rest_obj.len() + meta_count))?;
+
+        if let Some(meta) = &merged_meta {
+            map.serialize_entry("_meta", meta)?;
+        }
+
+        for (k, v) in &rest_obj {
+            map.serialize_entry(k, v)?;
+        }
+
+        map.end()
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct Proxy<'a, M, P> {
     method: M,
@@ -359,7 +406,9 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for CustomNotification {
 mod test {
     use serde_json::json;
 
-    use crate::model::ListToolsRequest;
+    use crate::model::{
+        CallToolRequest, CallToolRequestParams, CustomRequest, Extensions, ListToolsRequest, Meta,
+    };
 
     #[test]
     fn test_deserialize_lost_tools_request() {
@@ -370,4 +419,222 @@ mod test {
         ))
         .unwrap();
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_no_duplicate_meta_both_sources() {
+        // When both extensions and params contain _meta, the output should have
+        // a single merged _meta key (not two separate ones).
+        let mut extensions = Extensions::new();
+        let mut ext_meta = Meta::new();
+        ext_meta.0.insert("traceId".to_string(), json!("abc"));
+        extensions.insert(ext_meta);
+
+        let mut params_meta = Meta::new();
+        params_meta.0.insert("progressToken".to_string(), json!(1));
+
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions,
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: Some(params_meta),
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: None,
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let value = serde_json::to_value(&req).unwrap();
+        let params = value.get("params").unwrap();
+
+        // There should be exactly one _meta key (JSON objects naturally deduplicate)
+        let meta = params.get("_meta").unwrap();
+
+        // Both entries should be present in the merged _meta
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("traceId").unwrap(), "abc");
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("progressToken").unwrap(), 1);
+
+        // Verify the raw JSON string has exactly one occurrence of "_meta"
+        let raw = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            raw.matches("\"_meta\"").count(),
+            1,
+            "Expected exactly one _meta key in serialized output, got: {}",
+            raw
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_meta_only_from_extensions() {
+        let mut extensions = Extensions::new();
+        let mut ext_meta = Meta::new();
+        ext_meta.0.insert("traceId".to_string(), json!("ext-only"));
+        extensions.insert(ext_meta);
+
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions,
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: None,
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: None,
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let value = serde_json::to_value(&req).unwrap();
+        let meta = value["params"]["_meta"].as_object().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("traceId").unwrap(), "ext-only");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_meta_only_from_params() {
+        let mut params_meta = Meta::new();
+        params_meta.0.insert("progressToken".to_string(), json!(42));
+
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions: Extensions::new(),
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: Some(params_meta),
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: None,
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let value = serde_json::to_value(&req).unwrap();
+        let meta = value["params"]["_meta"].as_object().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("progressToken").unwrap(), 42);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_no_meta_emitted_when_neither_source() {
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions: Extensions::new(),
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: None,
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: None,
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let value = serde_json::to_value(&req).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            value["params"].get("_meta").is_none(),
+            "Expected no _meta when neither source is populated"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_extensions_meta_takes_priority_on_conflict() {
+        // When both sources have the same key, extensions should win.
+        let mut extensions = Extensions::new();
+        let mut ext_meta = Meta::new();
+        ext_meta
+            .0
+            .insert("shared_key".to_string(), json!("from_extensions"));
+        extensions.insert(ext_meta);
+
+        let mut params_meta = Meta::new();
+        params_meta
+            .0
+            .insert("shared_key".to_string(), json!("from_params"));
+        params_meta
+            .0
+            .insert("params_only".to_string(), json!("kept"));
+
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions,
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: Some(params_meta),
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: None,
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let value = serde_json::to_value(&req).unwrap();
+        let meta = value["params"]["_meta"].as_object().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("shared_key").unwrap(), "from_extensions");
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("params_only").unwrap(), "kept");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_round_trip_preserves_meta() {
+        let mut extensions = Extensions::new();
+        let mut ext_meta = Meta::new();
+        ext_meta
+            .0
+            .insert("traceId".to_string(), json!("round-trip"));
+        extensions.insert(ext_meta);
+
+        let req = CallToolRequest {
+            extensions,
+            method: Default::default(),
+            params: CallToolRequestParams {
+                meta: None,
+                name: "my_tool".into(),
+                arguments: Some(serde_json::Map::from_iter([("x".to_string(), json!(1))])),
+                task: None,
+            },
+        };
+
+        let serialized = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
+        let deserialized: CallToolRequest = serde_json::from_str(&serialized).unwrap();
+
+        // Extensions should have the meta after round-trip
+        let meta = deserialized.extensions.get::<Meta>().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(meta.0.get("traceId").unwrap(), "round-trip");
+
+        // Params should be preserved
+        assert_eq!(deserialized.params.name, "my_tool");
+        assert_eq!(
+            deserialized
+                .params
+                .arguments
+                .as_ref()
+                .unwrap()
+                .get("x")
+                .unwrap(),
+            &json!(1)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_custom_request_no_duplicate_meta() {
+        // CustomRequest uses Option<Value> as params — verify no duplicate _meta.
+        let mut extensions = Extensions::new();
+        let mut ext_meta = Meta::new();
+        ext_meta
+            .0
+            .insert("traceId".to_string(), json!("custom-ext"));
+        extensions.insert(ext_meta);
+
+        let params = Some(json!({
+            "_meta": { "progressToken": 99 },
+            "foo": "bar"
+        }));
+
+        let req = CustomRequest {
+            extensions,
+            method: "custom/method".into(),
+            params,
+        };
+
+        let raw = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            raw.matches("\"_meta\"").count(),
+            1,
+            "Expected exactly one _meta key in CustomRequest output, got: {}",
+            raw
+        );
+
+        let value: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(&raw).unwrap();
+        let meta = value["params"]["_meta"].as_object().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("traceId").unwrap(), "custom-ext");
+        assert_eq!(meta.get("progressToken").unwrap(), 99);
+    }
 }