diff --git a/src/mcp/shared/auth.py b/src/mcp/shared/auth.py
index 4d2d57221..b899bb5e0 100644
--- a/src/mcp/shared/auth.py
+++ b/src/mcp/shared/auth.py
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ class OAuthClientMetadata(BaseModel):
     def validate_scope(self, requested_scope: str | None) -> list[str] | None:
         if requested_scope is None:
             return None
+        if requested_scope == "":
+            return []
         requested_scopes = requested_scope.split(" ")
         allowed_scopes = [] if self.scope is None else self.scope.split(" ")
         for scope in requested_scopes:
diff --git a/tests/client/test_auth.py b/tests/client/test_auth.py
index de4eb70af..4ad254513 100644
--- a/tests/client/test_auth.py
+++ b/tests/client/test_auth.py
@@ -760,6 +760,17 @@ async def test_scope_priority_no_scope(self, oauth_provider, oauth_client_info):
         # No scope should be set
         assert "scope" not in auth_params
 
+    @pytest.mark.anyio
+    async def test_client_metadata_validate_scopes_none(self, client_metadata):
+        """Test that validate_scopes method handles None and empty string correctly."""
+        # Should return None
+        requested_scopes = client_metadata.validate_scope(None)
+        assert requested_scopes is None
+
+        # No scopes should be requested; this can happen when a client authorizes with "&scope=".
+        requested_scopes = client_metadata.validate_scope("")
+        assert requested_scopes == []
+
     @pytest.mark.anyio
     async def test_state_parameter_validation_uses_constant_time(
         self, oauth_provider, oauth_metadata, oauth_client_info