diff --git a/.sampo/changesets/mcp-capture-tools-list-option.md b/.sampo/changesets/mcp-capture-tools-list-option.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a196d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.sampo/changesets/mcp-capture-tools-list-option.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+pypi/posthog: minor
+---
+
+Add a `capture_tools_list` option to MCP analytics. It is on by default. Set it to `False` to stop sending `$mcp_tools_list`.
diff --git a/posthog/mcp/README.md b/posthog/mcp/README.md
index 0c936ba5..cf277be0 100644
--- a/posthog/mcp/README.md
+++ b/posthog/mcp/README.md
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ calls keep their sessions and client names.
 instrument(server, posthog, MCPAnalyticsOptions(capture_initialize=False))
 ```
 
+Set `capture_tools_list=False` to stop sending `$mcp_tools_list`. Nothing else changes: tools keep
+their injected arguments, and the virtual tools stay listed.
+
 `identify` and `event_properties` run for the handshake too. On MCP SDK 1.x the
 SDK has no request context for it, so `extra["ctx"]` carries only `.request`.
 `get_request_headers(extra)` works the same as for any other request.
diff --git a/posthog/mcp/_instrumentation.py b/posthog/mcp/_instrumentation.py
index 9580e3a0..c325dd68 100644
--- a/posthog/mcp/_instrumentation.py
+++ b/posthog/mcp/_instrumentation.py
@@ -1449,6 +1449,8 @@ async def record_tools_list(
     protocol_version: Optional[str] = None,
     extra: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
 ) -> None:
+    if not data.options.capture_tools_list:
+        return
     try:
         event: Dict[str, Any] = {
             "event_type": MCPAnalyticsEventType.MCP_TOOLS_LIST,
diff --git a/posthog/mcp/types.py b/posthog/mcp/types.py
index b97a640f..8d253da5 100644
--- a/posthog/mcp/types.py
+++ b/posthog/mcp/types.py
@@ -249,6 +249,10 @@ class MCPAnalyticsOptions:
     # Send `$mcp_initialize` for each `initialize` handshake. On by default.
     # False sends no `$mcp_initialize`. Nothing else changes.
     capture_initialize: bool = True
+    # Send `$mcp_tools_list` for each `tools/list`. On by default. False sends
+    # no `$mcp_tools_list`. Nothing else changes: tools keep their injected
+    # arguments, and the virtual tools stay listed.
+    capture_tools_list: bool = True
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/posthog/test/mcp/test_capture_tools_list.py b/posthog/test/mcp/test_capture_tools_list.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c7067c58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posthog/test/mcp/test_capture_tools_list.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""``capture_tools_list=False`` sends no ``$mcp_tools_list``, and nothing else changes.
+
+Reuses the real-HTTP fleet from ``test_initialize_handshake.py``, so it runs for
+every server shape on both SDK majors.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from posthog.mcp import MCPAnalyticsOptions, instrument
+from posthog.test.mcp._helpers import (
+    MCP_MAJOR,
+    FakeClient,
+    events_named as _events,
+    flush_background as _flush,
+)
+from posthog.test.mcp.test_initialize_handshake import (
+    KINDS,
+    call_add,
+    fleet,
+    handshake,
+    list_tools,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("kind", KINDS)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("capture", [True, False])
+async def test_capture_tools_list_controls_only_the_listing_event(kind, capture):
+    client = FakeClient()
+    options = MCPAnalyticsOptions(
+        enable_conversation_id=False, capture_tools_list=capture
+    )
+    async with fleet(client, kind=kind, options=options) as lb:
+        headers, _ = await handshake(lb)
+        listing = (await list_tools(lb, headers)).json()["result"]
+        await call_add(lb, headers)
+    await _flush()
+
+    assert len(_events(client, "$mcp_tools_list")) == (1 if capture else 0)
+    # The listing itself is unchanged: the SDK still injects `context`.
+    (tool,) = [t for t in listing["tools"] if t["name"] == "add"]
+    assert "context" in tool["inputSchema"]["properties"]
+    (call,) = _events(client, "$mcp_tool_call")
+    assert call["properties"]["$mcp_intent"] == "adding"
+    assert len(_events(client, "$mcp_initialize")) == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(MCP_MAJOR >= 2, reason="the request_handlers registry is mcp 1.x")
+async def test_capture_tools_list_off_also_drops_a_failed_listing():
+    import mcp.types as mcp_types
+    from mcp.server.lowlevel import Server
+
+    server = Server("failing-listing")
+
+    @server.list_tools()
+    async def list_tools_handler():
+        raise RuntimeError("listing failed")
+
+    client = FakeClient()
+    instrument(server, client, MCPAnalyticsOptions(capture_tools_list=False))
+    handler = server.request_handlers[mcp_types.ListToolsRequest]
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        await handler(mcp_types.ListToolsRequest(method="tools/list"))
+    await _flush()
+
+    assert _events(client, "$mcp_tools_list") == []
+    assert _events(client, "$exception") == []
diff --git a/references/public_api_snapshot.txt b/references/public_api_snapshot.txt
index ad77deca..22f33b1f 100644
--- a/references/public_api_snapshot.txt
+++ b/references/public_api_snapshot.txt
@@ -1041,6 +1041,7 @@ attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsModelSource = Literal['client_metadata',
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.before_send: Optional[BeforeSendFn] = None
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.capture_initialize: bool = True
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.capture_model: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsModelOptions] = True
+attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.capture_tools_list: bool = True
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.collect_feedback: Union[bool, CollectFeedbackOptions] = False
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.context: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsContextOptions] = True
 attribute posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions.enable_conversation_id: bool = True
@@ -1307,7 +1308,7 @@ class posthog.mcp.types.CollectFeedbackOptions(tool_name: Optional[str] = None,
 class posthog.mcp.types.FeedbackReport(feedback_type: str = 'other', summary: str = '', sentiment: Optional[str] = None, friction_points: Optional[str] = None, suggested_improvement: Optional[str] = None, details: Optional[str] = None, tool_name: Optional[str] = None, task_completed: Optional[bool] = None, extras: JsonRecord = dict(), raw: JsonRecord = dict())
 class posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsContextOptions(description: Optional[str] = None)
 class posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsModelOptions(description: Optional[str] = None)
-class posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions(logger: Optional[LoggerFn] = None, report_missing: bool = False, missing_capability_tool_name: Optional[str] = None, enable_conversation_id: bool = True, enable_exception_autocapture: bool = True, context: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsContextOptions] = True, identify: Optional[Union[IdentifyFn, UserIdentity]] = None, intent_fallback: Optional[IntentFallbackFn] = None, before_send: Optional[BeforeSendFn] = None, event_properties: Optional[EventPropertiesFn] = None, capture_model: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsModelOptions] = True, collect_feedback: Union[bool, CollectFeedbackOptions] = False, server_build: Optional[str] = None, should_record_input_key: Optional[ShouldRecordInputKeyFn] = None, resolve_input_aliases: Optional[ResolveInputAliasesFn] = None, resolve_original_tool: Optional[Callable[[str], Any]] = None, capture_initialize: bool = True)
+class posthog.mcp.types.MCPAnalyticsOptions(logger: Optional[LoggerFn] = None, report_missing: bool = False, missing_capability_tool_name: Optional[str] = None, enable_conversation_id: bool = True, enable_exception_autocapture: bool = True, context: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsContextOptions] = True, identify: Optional[Union[IdentifyFn, UserIdentity]] = None, intent_fallback: Optional[IntentFallbackFn] = None, before_send: Optional[BeforeSendFn] = None, event_properties: Optional[EventPropertiesFn] = None, capture_model: Union[bool, MCPAnalyticsModelOptions] = True, collect_feedback: Union[bool, CollectFeedbackOptions] = False, server_build: Optional[str] = None, should_record_input_key: Optional[ShouldRecordInputKeyFn] = None, resolve_input_aliases: Optional[ResolveInputAliasesFn] = None, resolve_original_tool: Optional[Callable[[str], Any]] = None, capture_initialize: bool = True, capture_tools_list: bool = True)
 class posthog.mcp.types.PreparedToolCall(args: Optional[JsonRecord] = None, intent: Optional[str] = None, intent_source: Optional[str] = None, is_missing_capability: bool = False, llm_model: Optional[str] = None, llm_model_source: Optional[MCPAnalyticsModelSource] = None, is_feedback: bool = False, feedback_report: Optional[FeedbackReport] = None, session_id: Optional[str] = None, conversation_id: Optional[str] = None, _conversation_state: Optional[PreparedConversationState] = None)
 class posthog.mcp.types.ToolInputOptions(should_record_input_key: Optional[ShouldRecordInputKeyFn] = None, input_aliases: Optional[InputAliasMap] = None)
 class posthog.mcp.types.UserIdentity(distinct_id: str, properties: Optional[JsonRecord] = None, groups: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None)