diff --git a/.changeset/related-zero-debounce.md b/.changeset/related-zero-debounce.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b155a6863a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/related-zero-debounce.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@modelcontextprotocol/core': patch
+---
+
+Treat numeric related request ID `0` as present when deciding whether a notification can be debounced.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/shared/protocol.ts b/packages/core/src/shared/protocol.ts
index 361bd6fc7c..3e33d2b37c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/shared/protocol.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/shared/protocol.ts
@@ -1009,8 +1009,9 @@ export abstract class Protocol<ContextT extends BaseContext> {
         const debouncedMethods = this._options?.debouncedNotificationMethods ?? [];
         // A notification can only be debounced if it's in the list AND it's "simple"
         // (i.e., has no parameters and no related request ID or related task that could be lost).
+        const hasRelatedRequestId = options?.relatedRequestId !== undefined;
         const canDebounce =
-            debouncedMethods.includes(notification.method) && !notification.params && !options?.relatedRequestId && !options?.relatedTask;
+            debouncedMethods.includes(notification.method) && !notification.params && !hasRelatedRequestId && !options?.relatedTask;
 
         if (canDebounce) {
             // If a notification of this type is already scheduled, do nothing.
diff --git a/packages/core/test/shared/protocol.test.ts b/packages/core/test/shared/protocol.test.ts
index 619e09376a..61f73deeb9 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/shared/protocol.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/shared/protocol.test.ts
@@ -768,6 +768,20 @@ describe('protocol tests', () => {
             expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Object), { relatedRequestId: 'req-2' });
         });
 
+        it('should NOT debounce a notification that has relatedRequestId 0', async () => {
+            // ARRANGE
+            protocol = new TestProtocolImpl({ debouncedNotificationMethods: ['test/debounced_with_zero_id'] });
+            await protocol.connect(transport);
+
+            // ACT
+            await protocol.notification({ method: 'test/debounced_with_zero_id' }, { relatedRequestId: 0 });
+            await protocol.notification({ method: 'test/debounced_with_zero_id' }, { relatedRequestId: 0 });
+
+            // ASSERT
+            expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+            expect(sendSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Object), { relatedRequestId: 0 });
+        });
+
         it('should clear pending debounced notifications on connection close', async () => {
             // ARRANGE
             protocol = new TestProtocolImpl({ debouncedNotificationMethods: ['test/debounced'] });