Lazy schema loading: stop paying the MCP 'tools tax' by gating tool schemas until needed

arXiv·low signal

Loading every MCP tool's full JSON schema on every turn is a hidden per-turn cost that scales with your tool count; dynamic tool gating with lazy schema loading defers each schema until the model actually reaches for that tool, measuring a 95% reduction in tool tokens per turn versus the full-schema baseline. For anyone wiring up many MCP servers, this reframes 'add more tools' from a free action into a budgeted one.