diff --git a/backend/apps/agents/core/mcp_preflight.py b/backend/apps/agents/core/mcp_preflight.py
index fad2c739..5db88d3c 100644
--- a/backend/apps/agents/core/mcp_preflight.py
+++ b/backend/apps/agents/core/mcp_preflight.py
@@ -138,6 +138,20 @@ def _build_available_shortlist(settings) -> list[CuratedEntry]:
     ]
 
 
+def offer_for_gated_server(server_name: str, settings) -> CuratedEntry | None:
+    """Mid-run a running agent may reach for a vetted MCP it isn't granted; this maps that
+    server to a one-click connect offer to SHOW the user. Suggest-only by construction: it
+    returns data to display, never an action that grants access, so it cannot widen the MCP
+    surface (activation stays behind MCPActivate + the dispatch gate). Returns None unless the
+    server is vetted AND inactive AND not dismissed, reusing the same filter as the preflight."""
+    if not server_name or not isinstance(server_name, str):
+        return None
+    entry = next((e for e in _build_available_shortlist(settings) if e["id"] == server_name), None)
+    if entry is None:
+        return None
+    return {"id": entry["id"], "title": entry["title"], "description": entry["description"], "reason": ""}
+
+
 def _decorate(llm_suggestion: dict, available: list[CuratedEntry]) -> dict | None:
     """Expand an LLM-returned {id, reason} into the full frontend shape."""
     entry = next((e for e in available if e["id"] == llm_suggestion["id"]), None)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_mcp_offer.py b/backend/tests/test_mcp_offer.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c494d9a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_mcp_offer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""Gate-safety invariants for the Phase 2 in-task connect offer (offer_for_gated_server).
+
+The whole point of the offer is that it can ONLY ever suggest, never grant: it must surface a
+vetted, inactive, not-dismissed MCP for the user to one-click-connect, and it must never carry
+anything that could widen the MCP surface on its own. These tests make a bad offer state fail
+loudly instead of shipping a silent gate bypass.
+"""
+
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+import backend.apps.agents.core.mcp_preflight as pf
+from backend.apps.agents.core.mcp_preflight import (
+    CURATED_SHORTLIST,
+    offer_for_gated_server,
+)
+
+VETTED = {e["id"] for e in CURATED_SHORTLIST}
+OFFER_SHAPE = {"id", "title", "description", "reason"}
+
+
+def _settings(dismissed=None):
+    return SimpleNamespace(dismissed_mcp_suggestions=dismissed or {})
+
+
+def test_offer_only_returns_vetted_inactive(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pf, "load_all_tools", lambda: [])  # nothing enabled
+    s = _settings()
+    o = offer_for_gated_server("Google Workspace", s)
+    assert o is not None
+    assert o["id"] == "Google Workspace"
+    assert o["id"] in VETTED
+
+
+def test_offer_rejects_unvetted_and_empty(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pf, "load_all_tools", lambda: [])
+    s = _settings()
+    assert offer_for_gated_server("NotAVettedServer", s) is None
+    assert offer_for_gated_server("", s) is None
+    assert offer_for_gated_server(None, s) is None  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
+
+def test_offer_suppressed_when_dismissed(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pf, "load_all_tools", lambda: [])
+    s = _settings({"Google Workspace": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"})
+    assert offer_for_gated_server("Google Workspace", s) is None
+
+
+def test_offer_suppressed_when_already_active(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        pf, "load_all_tools",
+        lambda: [SimpleNamespace(name="Google Workspace", enabled=True)],
+    )
+    s = _settings()
+    assert offer_for_gated_server("Google Workspace", s) is None
+
+
+def test_offer_carries_no_activate_capability(monkeypatch):
+    # The security invariant: an offer is data to display, never an action that grants access.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pf, "load_all_tools", lambda: [])
+    s = _settings()
+    for entry in CURATED_SHORTLIST:
+        o = offer_for_gated_server(entry["id"], s)
+        assert o is not None
+        assert set(o.keys()) == OFFER_SHAPE, f"offer for {entry['id']} grew an unexpected field"