diff --git a/doc/mcp.md b/doc/mcp.md
index aa2a8ebb4..8d989d622 100644
--- a/doc/mcp.md
+++ b/doc/mcp.md
@@ -123,9 +123,10 @@ Runs tests in a Dart or Flutter project.
   "tool": "test",
   "arguments": {
     "directory": "./my_app",
+    "paths": ["test/src/foo_test.dart", "test/widgets"],
     "dart": false,
     "coverage": true,
-    "recursive": true,
+    "recursive": false,
     "optimization": true,
     "concurrency": "4",
     "min_coverage": "100",
@@ -145,6 +146,8 @@ Runs tests in a Dart or Flutter project.
 
 All parameters are optional. When `optimization` is not specified, `--no-optimization` is applied by default. When `timeout_seconds` is not specified, no timeout is applied.
 
+`directory` selects the package to test; `paths` selects test files or directories *within* that package. To run another package's tests, point `directory` at it — putting a package path in `paths` runs the wrong thing, or nothing at all. Passing `paths` disables the test optimization step, and it cannot be combined with `recursive`, since each package in a recursive run gets the same relative path and only one of them can resolve it.
+
 ### `packages_get`
 
 Installs or updates Dart/Flutter package dependencies.
diff --git a/lib/src/cli/test_cli_runner.dart b/lib/src/cli/test_cli_runner.dart
index 3d6c42c06..cf471621f 100644
--- a/lib/src/cli/test_cli_runner.dart
+++ b/lib/src/cli/test_cli_runner.dart
@@ -62,14 +62,19 @@ class MinCoverageNotMet implements Exception {
 class TestCLIRunner {
   /// Determines whether the user is targetting test files or not.
   ///
-  /// The user can only target test files by using the `--` option terminator.
-  /// The additional options after the `--` are passed to the test runner which
-  /// allows the user to target specific test files or directories.
+  /// [rest] holds the positional arguments left over after option parsing.
+  /// Trailing options are allowed, so bare targets work
+  /// (`very_good test test/foo_test.dart`); the `--` option terminator is only
+  /// needed for a target that begins with `-`, which would otherwise be read
+  /// as an option. Either way the parser strips the `--` out of [rest], so
+  /// what arrives here is the targets alone.
   ///
   /// The heuristics used to determine if the user is not targetting test files
   /// are:
   /// * No [rest] arguments are passed.
-  /// * All [rest] arguments are options (i.e. they do not start with `-`).
+  /// * Every [rest] argument is an option (i.e. it starts with `-`), which
+  ///   only happens when the options were passed through a `--` for the
+  ///   underlying test runner.
   ///
   /// See also:
   /// * [What does -- mean in Shell?](https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/what-does-double-dash-mean-in-ssh-command/)
diff --git a/lib/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_command.dart b/lib/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_command.dart
index b5dabf9ae..ad42190ea 100644
--- a/lib/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_command.dart
+++ b/lib/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_command.dart
@@ -360,6 +360,15 @@ class DartTestCommand extends Command<int> {
     final pubspec = File(path.join(targetPath, 'pubspec.yaml'));
     final recursive = _argResults['recursive'] as bool;
 
+    if (recursive && TestCLIRunner.isTargettingTestFiles(_argResults.rest)) {
+      _logger.err('''
+Cannot target specific test files together with --recursive.
+Test targets are resolved against a single package root, so the same path
+cannot apply to every package. Drop --recursive and run from the package
+that contains them.''');
+      return ExitCode.usage.code;
+    }
+
     if (!recursive && !pubspec.existsSync()) {
       _logger.err('''
 Could not find a pubspec.yaml in $targetPath.
diff --git a/lib/src/commands/test/test.dart b/lib/src/commands/test/test.dart
index ca565a4f9..d08fadf23 100644
--- a/lib/src/commands/test/test.dart
+++ b/lib/src/commands/test/test.dart
@@ -438,6 +438,15 @@ class TestCommand extends Command<int> {
     final pubspec = File(path.join(targetPath, 'pubspec.yaml'));
     final recursive = _argResults['recursive'] as bool;
 
+    if (recursive && TestCLIRunner.isTargettingTestFiles(_argResults.rest)) {
+      _logger.err('''
+Cannot target specific test files together with --recursive.
+Test targets are resolved against a single package root, so the same path
+cannot apply to every package. Drop --recursive and run from the package
+that contains them.''');
+      return ExitCode.usage.code;
+    }
+
     if (!recursive && !pubspec.existsSync()) {
       _logger.err('''
 Could not find a pubspec.yaml in $targetPath.
diff --git a/lib/src/mcp/mcp_server.dart b/lib/src/mcp/mcp_server.dart
index 7b80a8125..79d1ebc05 100644
--- a/lib/src/mcp/mcp_server.dart
+++ b/lib/src/mcp/mcp_server.dart
@@ -170,8 +170,21 @@ If is omitted, then core will be selected.
           properties: {
             'directory': StringSchema(
               description:
-                  'Target directory path (defaults to current directory). '
-                  'Can be absolute or relative path to project root.',
+                  'The package to test (defaults to current directory). '
+                  'Can be absolute or relative path to project root. '
+                  'A package path belongs here, not in "paths".',
+            ),
+            'paths': ListSchema(
+              description:
+                  'Test files or directories to run, relative to the package '
+                  'selected by "directory" (e.g. '
+                  "['test/src/foo_test.dart', 'test/widgets']). These are "
+                  'targets inside that one package: to test a different '
+                  'package, set "directory" to it rather than putting its '
+                  'path here. When omitted, the whole suite runs. Cannot be '
+                  'combined with "recursive". Note that targeting specific '
+                  'paths disables the test optimization step.',
+              items: StringSchema(),
             ),
             'dart': BooleanSchema(
               description: '''Whether to run Dart tests. If not specified, Flutter tests will be run if a Flutter project is detected.''',
@@ -180,7 +193,11 @@ If is omitted, then core will be selected.
               description: 'Whether to collect coverage information.',
             ),
             'recursive': BooleanSchema(
-              description: 'Run tests recursively for all nested packages.',
+              description:
+                  'Run tests recursively for all nested packages. '
+                  'Cannot be combined with "paths", because each package runs '
+                  'in its own working directory and a path is only meaningful '
+                  'within one of them.',
             ),
             'optimization': BooleanSchema(
               description: '''
@@ -448,6 +465,16 @@ Only one value can be selected.
       ]);
     }
 
+    // Positional test targets go last, after every option, so that they are
+    // parsed as `rest` rather than as a value for the preceding option. The
+    // `--` terminator keeps a target that begins with `-` from being read as
+    // an option; the parser strips it back out of `rest`, so the test command
+    // sees the paths and nothing else.
+    final paths = args['paths'] as List<Object?>?;
+    if (paths != null && paths.isNotEmpty) {
+      cliArgs.addAll(['--', ...paths.cast<String>()]);
+    }
+
     return cliArgs;
   }
 
diff --git a/test/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_test.dart b/test/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_test.dart
index 589183c29..47e3be231 100644
--- a/test/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_test.dart
+++ b/test/src/commands/dart/commands/dart_test_test.dart
@@ -760,6 +760,43 @@ void main() {
       },
     );
 
+    test(
+      'exits with usage code when targeting test files with --recursive',
+      () async {
+        when<dynamic>(() => argResults['recursive']).thenReturn(true);
+        when(() => argResults.rest).thenReturn(['test/my_test.dart']);
+
+        final result = await testCommand.run();
+
+        expect(result, equals(ExitCode.usage.code));
+        verify(
+          () => logger.err(any(that: contains('--recursive'))),
+        ).called(1);
+      },
+    );
+
+    test(
+      'allows --recursive when rest arguements are all options',
+      () async {
+        when<dynamic>(() => argResults['recursive']).thenReturn(true);
+        when(() => argResults.rest).thenReturn(['--track-wdiget-creation']);
+
+        final result = await testCommand.run();
+
+        expect(result, equals(ExitCode.success.code));
+        verify(
+          () => dartTest(
+            recursive: true,
+            optimizePerformance: true,
+            arguments: [...defaultArguments, '--track-wdiget-creation'],
+            logger: logger,
+            stdout: logger.write,
+            stderr: logger.err,
+          ),
+        ).called(1);
+      },
+    );
+
     test(
       'enables optimizePerformance when rest arguement is an option',
       () async {
diff --git a/test/src/commands/test/test_test.dart b/test/src/commands/test/test_test.dart
index 4dd2070ac..252e9b453 100644
--- a/test/src/commands/test/test_test.dart
+++ b/test/src/commands/test/test_test.dart
@@ -539,6 +539,43 @@ void main() {
         },
       );
 
+      test(
+        'exits with usage code when targeting test files with --recursive',
+        () async {
+          when<dynamic>(() => argResults['recursive']).thenReturn(true);
+          when(() => argResults.rest).thenReturn(['test/my_test.dart']);
+
+          final result = await testCommand.run();
+
+          expect(result, equals(ExitCode.usage.code));
+          verify(
+            () => logger.err(any(that: contains('--recursive'))),
+          ).called(1);
+        },
+      );
+
+      test(
+        'allows --recursive when rest arguements are all options',
+        () async {
+          when<dynamic>(() => argResults['recursive']).thenReturn(true);
+          when(() => argResults.rest).thenReturn(['--track-wdiget-creation']);
+
+          final result = await testCommand.run();
+
+          expect(result, equals(ExitCode.success.code));
+          verify(
+            () => flutterTest(
+              recursive: true,
+              optimizePerformance: true,
+              arguments: [...defaultArguments, '--track-wdiget-creation'],
+              logger: logger,
+              stdout: logger.write,
+              stderr: logger.err,
+            ),
+          ).called(1);
+        },
+      );
+
       test(
         'enables optimizePerformance when rest arguement is an option',
         () async {
diff --git a/test/src/mcp/mcp_server_test.dart b/test/src/mcp/mcp_server_test.dart
index 6c36ce9a3..0ce7b5ddb 100644
--- a/test/src/mcp/mcp_server_test.dart
+++ b/test/src/mcp/mcp_server_test.dart
@@ -502,6 +502,88 @@ void main() {
                 as List<String>;
         expect(capturedArgs, equals(['test', '--timeout', '120']));
       });
+
+      test('passes paths as positional test targets behind `--`', () async {
+        await sendRequest(
+          CallToolRequest.methodName,
+          _params(
+            CallToolRequest(
+              name: 'test',
+              arguments: {
+                'paths': ['test/src/foo_test.dart', 'test/widgets'],
+              },
+            ),
+          ),
+        );
+
+        final capturedArgs =
+            verify(() => mockCommandRunner.run(captureAny())).captured.first
+                as List<String>;
+        expect(
+          capturedArgs,
+          equals(['test', '--', 'test/src/foo_test.dart', 'test/widgets']),
+        );
+      });
+
+      test('passes paths after options so they are parsed as rest', () async {
+        await sendRequest(
+          CallToolRequest.methodName,
+          _params(
+            CallToolRequest(
+              name: 'test',
+              arguments: {
+                'dart': true,
+                'concurrency': '8',
+                'paths': ['test/src/foo_test.dart'],
+              },
+            ),
+          ),
+        );
+
+        final capturedArgs =
+            verify(() => mockCommandRunner.run(captureAny())).captured.first
+                as List<String>;
+        expect(
+          capturedArgs,
+          equals(['dart', 'test', '-j', '8', '--', 'test/src/foo_test.dart']),
+        );
+      });
+
+      test('passes a path beginning with `-` through unparsed', () async {
+        await sendRequest(
+          CallToolRequest.methodName,
+          _params(
+            CallToolRequest(
+              name: 'test',
+              arguments: {
+                'paths': ['-weird_test.dart'],
+              },
+            ),
+          ),
+        );
+
+        final capturedArgs =
+            verify(() => mockCommandRunner.run(captureAny())).captured.first
+                as List<String>;
+        expect(capturedArgs, equals(['test', '--', '-weird_test.dart']));
+      });
+
+      test('adds no positional targets when paths is empty', () async {
+        await sendRequest(
+          CallToolRequest.methodName,
+          _params(
+            CallToolRequest(
+              name: 'test',
+              arguments: {'paths': <String>[]},
+            ),
+          ),
+        );
+
+        final capturedArgs =
+            verify(() => mockCommandRunner.run(captureAny())).captured.first
+                as List<String>;
+        expect(capturedArgs, equals(['test']));
+      });
     });
 
     group('Tool: packages_get', () {