diff --git a/packages/core/src/mcp/client.ts b/packages/core/src/mcp/client.ts
index fcd0814fb8c..04f50201c5f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/mcp/client.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/mcp/client.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import { InstallationVersion } from "../installation/version"
 
 const DEFAULT_STARTUP_TIMEOUT = 30_000
 const DEFAULT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 30_000
+const ELICITATION_PROGRESS_INTERVAL = 10_000
 
 type Transport = StdioClientTransport | StreamableHTTPClientTransport
 
@@ -182,9 +183,31 @@ export const connect = Effect.fnUntraced(function* (
     Promise.resolve({ roots: [{ uri: pathToFileURL(directory).href }] }),
   )
   if (elicitation) {
-    client.setRequestHandler(ElicitRequestSchema, (request, extra) =>
-      Effect.runPromise(elicitation.create({ server, params: request.params, signal: extra.signal })),
-    )
+    client.setRequestHandler(ElicitRequestSchema, async (request, extra) => {
+      const progressToken = extra._meta?.progressToken
+      const started = Date.now()
+      // Human input can exceed the server's request timeout; progress keeps cooperative callers alive.
+      const sendProgress = () => {
+        if (progressToken === undefined) return
+        void extra
+          .sendNotification({
+            method: "notifications/progress",
+            params: {
+              progressToken,
+              progress: Date.now() - started,
+              message: "Waiting for user response",
+            },
+          })
+          .catch(() => undefined)
+      }
+      const interval = progressToken === undefined ? undefined : setInterval(sendProgress, ELICITATION_PROGRESS_INTERVAL)
+      sendProgress()
+      try {
+        return await Effect.runPromise(elicitation.create({ server, params: request.params, signal: extra.signal }))
+      } finally {
+        if (interval !== undefined) clearInterval(interval)
+      }
+    })
     client.setNotificationHandler(ElicitationCompleteNotificationSchema, (notification) =>
       Effect.runPromise(elicitation.complete({ server, elicitationID: notification.params.elicitationId })),
     )