diff --git a/src/mcp/server/runner.py b/src/mcp/server/runner.py
index 26e8efbe57..57589078bc 100644
--- a/src/mcp/server/runner.py
+++ b/src/mcp/server/runner.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
     CLIENT_INFO_META_KEY,
     CORE_RESULT_TYPES,
     INTERNAL_ERROR,
-    INVALID_PARAMS,
     INVALID_REQUEST,
     METHOD_NOT_FOUND,
     PROTOCOL_VERSION_META_KEY,
@@ -209,8 +208,15 @@ async def _inner(ctx: ServerRequestContext[LifespanT, Any]) -> HandlerResult:
             if entry is None:
                 raise MCPError(code=METHOD_NOT_FOUND, message="Method not found", data=method)
             if not self.connection.initialize_accepted and method not in _INIT_EXEMPT:
-                # Pinned compat: the same error shape the union validation produced.
-                raise MCPError(code=INVALID_PARAMS, message="Invalid request parameters", data="")
+                # A request before the handshake is a lifecycle error, not a
+                # parameter error: answer -32600 with the reason, so a client
+                # on a stale session (e.g. after a server restart) learns it
+                # must (re-)run `initialize` instead of debugging its params.
+                raise MCPError(
+                    code=INVALID_REQUEST,
+                    message="Received request before initialization was complete",
+                    data="The client must send an 'initialize' request before any other request.",
+                )
             # Absent params validate as {} (required fields still reject), so
             # the handler receives the model with its defaults, never None.
             typed_params = entry.params_type.model_validate({} if params is None else params, by_name=False)
diff --git a/tests/interaction/lowlevel/test_initialize.py b/tests/interaction/lowlevel/test_initialize.py
index 1ebc9e2681..b4b625b6df 100644
--- a/tests/interaction/lowlevel/test_initialize.py
+++ b/tests/interaction/lowlevel/test_initialize.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 import pytest
 from inline_snapshot import snapshot
 from mcp_types import (
-    INVALID_PARAMS,
+    INVALID_REQUEST,
     CallToolResult,
     ClientCapabilities,
     CompletionsCapability,
@@ -228,11 +228,12 @@ async def list_roots(context: ClientRequestContext) -> types.ListRootsResult:
 
 @requirement("lifecycle:requests-before-initialized")
 async def test_request_before_initialization_is_rejected() -> None:
-    """A feature request sent before the handshake completes is rejected; ping is exempt.
+    """A feature request sent before the handshake completes is rejected with a
+    descriptive error; ping is exempt.
 
     Client always initializes on entry, so this drives a bare ClientSession that never sends
-    initialize. The server's stated reason for the rejection never reaches the client: the error
-    is reported as a generic invalid-params failure.
+    initialize. The rejection names the missing handshake (-32600), so a client on a stale
+    session learns it must (re-)run `initialize` instead of debugging its params.
     """
 
     async def list_tools(ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.PaginatedRequestParams | None) -> ListToolsResult:
@@ -253,7 +254,11 @@ async def list_tools(ctx: ServerRequestContext, params: types.PaginatedRequestPa
             pong = await session.send_ping()
 
     assert exc_info.value.error == snapshot(
-        ErrorData(code=INVALID_PARAMS, message="Invalid request parameters", data="")
+        ErrorData(
+            code=INVALID_REQUEST,
+            message="Received request before initialization was complete",
+            data="The client must send an 'initialize' request before any other request.",
+        )
     )
     assert pong == snapshot(EmptyResult())
 
diff --git a/tests/server/test_runner.py b/tests/server/test_runner.py
index 1e2ab741b7..f211adb42e 100644
--- a/tests/server/test_runner.py
+++ b/tests/server/test_runner.py
@@ -208,7 +208,11 @@ async def test_runner_gates_requests_before_initialize(server: SrvT):
     async with connected_runner(server, initialized=False) as (client, _):
         with pytest.raises(MCPError) as exc:
             await client.send_raw_request("tools/list", None)
-        assert exc.value.error == ErrorData(code=INVALID_PARAMS, message="Invalid request parameters", data="")
+        assert exc.value.error == ErrorData(
+            code=INVALID_REQUEST,
+            message="Received request before initialization was complete",
+            data="The client must send an 'initialize' request before any other request.",
+        )
         # ping is exempt from the gate
         assert await client.send_raw_request("ping", None) == {}
 
@@ -249,7 +253,11 @@ async def greet(ctx: Ctx, params: RequestParams | None) -> Any:
     async with connected_runner(server, initialized=False) as (client, _):
         with pytest.raises(MCPError) as exc:
             await client.send_raw_request("custom/greet", None)
-        assert exc.value.error == ErrorData(code=INVALID_PARAMS, message="Invalid request parameters", data="")
+        assert exc.value.error == ErrorData(
+            code=INVALID_REQUEST,
+            message="Received request before initialization was complete",
+            data="The client must send an 'initialize' request before any other request.",
+        )
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -632,7 +640,11 @@ async def reject_initialize(ctx: Ctx, call_next: Any) -> Any:
         assert exc.value.error.message == "rejected by middleware"
         with pytest.raises(MCPError) as gate_exc:
             await client.send_raw_request("tools/list", None)
-        assert gate_exc.value.error == ErrorData(code=INVALID_PARAMS, message="Invalid request parameters", data="")
+        assert gate_exc.value.error == ErrorData(
+            code=INVALID_REQUEST,
+            message="Received request before initialization was complete",
+            data="The client must send an 'initialize' request before any other request.",
+        )
         # ping passes through the middleware untouched
         assert await client.send_raw_request("ping", None) == {}
     assert runner.connection.initialize_accepted is False