diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/mcp_management_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/mcp_management_endpoints.py
index 282184d6495..e425adfc297 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/mcp_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/mcp_management_endpoints.py
@@ -195,11 +195,16 @@ if MCP_AVAILABLE:
         expires_at: datetime
 
     def _validate_mcp_server_name_fields(payload: Any) -> None:
-        candidates: list[tuple[str, str | None]] = []
-
         server_name = getattr(payload, "server_name", None)
         alias = getattr(payload, "alias", None)
 
+        if not server_name and not alias:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                detail={"error": "An MCP server requires a server_name or alias."},
+            )
+
+        candidates: list[tuple[str, str | None]] = []
         if server_name:
             candidates.append(("server_name", server_name))
         if alias:
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_mcp_management_endpoints.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_mcp_management_endpoints.py
index 53dda8f6648..8f4899c9130 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_mcp_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_mcp_management_endpoints.py
@@ -3624,6 +3624,24 @@ class TestManagementPayloadValidation:
 
         assert payload.alias == "valid_server"
 
+    def test_rejects_missing_server_name_and_alias(self):
+        payload = SimpleNamespace(server_name=None, alias=None)
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+            mgmt_endpoints.validate_and_normalize_mcp_server_payload(payload)
+
+        assert exc_info.value.status_code == 400
+        assert "server_name or alias" in exc_info.value.detail["error"]
+
+    def test_rejects_empty_server_name_and_alias(self):
+        payload = SimpleNamespace(server_name="", alias="")
+
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+            mgmt_endpoints.validate_and_normalize_mcp_server_payload(payload)
+
+        assert exc_info.value.status_code == 400
+        assert "server_name or alias" in exc_info.value.detail["error"]
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_health_check_view_all_mode(self):
         """view_all mode should return health info for all MCP servers."""