diff --git a/lib/mcp/configuration.rb b/lib/mcp/configuration.rb
index 39eeebe..5a03d24 100644
--- a/lib/mcp/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/mcp/configuration.rb
@@ -4,12 +4,18 @@ module MCP
   class Configuration
     DEFAULT_PROTOCOL_VERSION = "2024-11-05"
 
-    attr_writer :exception_reporter, :instrumentation_callback, :protocol_version
+    attr_writer :exception_reporter, :instrumentation_callback, :protocol_version, :validate_tool_call_arguments
 
-    def initialize(exception_reporter: nil, instrumentation_callback: nil, protocol_version: nil)
+    def initialize(exception_reporter: nil, instrumentation_callback: nil, protocol_version: nil,
+      validate_tool_call_arguments: true)
       @exception_reporter = exception_reporter
       @instrumentation_callback = instrumentation_callback
       @protocol_version = protocol_version
+      unless validate_tool_call_arguments.is_a?(TrueClass) || validate_tool_call_arguments.is_a?(FalseClass)
+        raise ArgumentError, "validate_tool_call_arguments must be a boolean"
+      end
+
+      @validate_tool_call_arguments = validate_tool_call_arguments
     end
 
     def protocol_version
@@ -36,6 +42,12 @@ def instrumentation_callback?
       !@instrumentation_callback.nil?
     end
 
+    attr_reader :validate_tool_call_arguments
+
+    def validate_tool_call_arguments?
+      !!@validate_tool_call_arguments
+    end
+
     def merge(other)
       return self if other.nil?
 
@@ -54,11 +66,13 @@ def merge(other)
       else
         @protocol_version
       end
+      validate_tool_call_arguments = other.validate_tool_call_arguments
 
       Configuration.new(
         exception_reporter:,
         instrumentation_callback:,
         protocol_version:,
+        validate_tool_call_arguments:,
       )
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/mcp/server.rb b/lib/mcp/server.rb
index 6dde615..1bd9430 100644
--- a/lib/mcp/server.rb
+++ b/lib/mcp/server.rb
@@ -213,6 +213,15 @@ def call_tool(request)
         )
       end
 
+      if configuration.validate_tool_call_arguments && tool.input_schema
+        begin
+          tool.input_schema.validate_arguments(arguments)
+        rescue Tool::InputSchema::ValidationError => e
+          add_instrumentation_data(error: :invalid_schema)
+          raise RequestHandlerError.new(e.message, request, error_type: :invalid_schema)
+        end
+      end
+
       begin
         call_params = tool_call_parameters(tool)
 
diff --git a/lib/mcp/tool/input_schema.rb b/lib/mcp/tool/input_schema.rb
index 4683b7e..b56b640 100644
--- a/lib/mcp/tool/input_schema.rb
+++ b/lib/mcp/tool/input_schema.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
+require "json-schema"
+
 module MCP
   class Tool
     class InputSchema
+      class ValidationError < StandardError; end
+
       attr_reader :properties, :required
 
       def initialize(properties: {}, required: [])
         @properties = properties
         @required = required.map(&:to_sym)
+        validate_schema!
       end
 
       def to_h
@@ -21,6 +26,42 @@ def missing_required_arguments?(arguments)
       def missing_required_arguments(arguments)
         (required - arguments.keys.map(&:to_sym))
       end
+
+      def validate_arguments(arguments)
+        errors = JSON::Validator.fully_validate(to_h, arguments)
+        if errors.any?
+          raise ValidationError, "Invalid arguments: #{errors.join(", ")}"
+        end
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def validate_schema!
+        check_for_refs!
+        schema = to_h
+        schema_reader = JSON::Schema::Reader.new(
+          accept_uri: false,
+          accept_file: ->(path) { path.to_s.start_with?(Gem.loaded_specs["json-schema"].full_gem_path) },
+        )
+        metaschema = JSON::Validator.validator_for_name("draft4").metaschema
+        errors = JSON::Validator.fully_validate(metaschema, schema, schema_reader: schema_reader)
+        if errors.any?
+          raise ArgumentError, "Invalid JSON Schema: #{errors.join(", ")}"
+        end
+      end
+
+      def check_for_refs!(obj = properties)
+        case obj
+        when Hash
+          if obj.key?("$ref") || obj.key?(:$ref)
+            raise ArgumentError, "Invalid JSON Schema: $ref is not allowed in tool input schemas"
+          end
+
+          obj.each_value { |value| check_for_refs!(value) }
+        when Array
+          obj.each { |item| check_for_refs!(item) }
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/mcp.gemspec b/mcp.gemspec
index c598f45..7543bfc 100644
--- a/mcp.gemspec
+++ b/mcp.gemspec
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
   spec.require_paths = ["lib"]
 
   spec.add_dependency("json_rpc_handler", "~> 0.1")
+  spec.add_dependency("json-schema", "~> 4.1")
   spec.add_development_dependency("activesupport")
   spec.add_development_dependency("sorbet-static-and-runtime")
 end
diff --git a/test/mcp/configuration_test.rb b/test/mcp/configuration_test.rb
index 71a1c27..9a5ad08 100644
--- a/test/mcp/configuration_test.rb
+++ b/test/mcp/configuration_test.rb
@@ -61,5 +61,45 @@ class ConfigurationTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       merged = config3.merge(config1)
       assert_equal "2025-03-27", merged.protocol_version
     end
+
+    test "defaults validate_tool_call_arguments to true" do
+      config = Configuration.new
+      assert config.validate_tool_call_arguments
+    end
+
+    test "can set validate_tool_call_arguments to false" do
+      config = Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: false)
+      refute config.validate_tool_call_arguments
+    end
+
+    test "validate_tool_call_arguments? returns false when set" do
+      config = Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: false)
+      refute config.validate_tool_call_arguments?
+    end
+
+    test "validate_tool_call_arguments? returns true when not set" do
+      config = Configuration.new
+      assert config.validate_tool_call_arguments?
+    end
+
+    test "merge preserves validate_tool_call_arguments from other config" do
+      config1 = Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: false)
+      config2 = Configuration.new
+      merged = config1.merge(config2)
+      assert merged.validate_tool_call_arguments?
+    end
+
+    test "merge preserves validate_tool_call_arguments from self when other not set" do
+      config1 = Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: false)
+      config2 = Configuration.new
+      merged = config2.merge(config1)
+      refute merged.validate_tool_call_arguments
+    end
+
+    test "raises ArgumentError when validate_tool_call_arguments is not a boolean" do
+      assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+        Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: "true")
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/mcp/server_test.rb b/test/mcp/server_test.rb
index 6dc56ee..267f4ca 100644
--- a/test/mcp/server_test.rb
+++ b/test/mcp/server_test.rb
@@ -839,5 +839,123 @@ def call(message:, server_context: nil)
 
       refute_includes server_without_resources.capabilities, :resources
     end
+
+    test "tools/call validates arguments against input schema when validate_tool_call_arguments is true" do
+      server = Server.new(
+        tools: [TestTool],
+        configuration: Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: true),
+      )
+
+      response = server.handle(
+        {
+          jsonrpc: "2.0",
+          id: 1,
+          method: "tools/call",
+          params: {
+            name: "test_tool",
+            arguments: { message: 123 },
+          },
+        },
+      )
+
+      assert_equal "2.0", response[:jsonrpc]
+      assert_equal 1, response[:id]
+      assert_equal(-32603, response[:error][:code])
+      assert_includes response[:error][:data], "Invalid arguments"
+    end
+
+    test "tools/call skips argument validation when validate_tool_call_arguments is false" do
+      server = Server.new(
+        tools: [TestTool],
+        configuration: Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: false),
+      )
+
+      response = server.handle(
+        {
+          jsonrpc: "2.0",
+          id: 1,
+          method: "tools/call",
+          params: {
+            name: "test_tool",
+            arguments: { message: 123 },
+          },
+        },
+      )
+
+      assert_equal "2.0", response[:jsonrpc]
+      assert_equal 1, response[:id]
+      assert response[:result], "Expected result key in response"
+      assert_equal "text", response[:result][:content][0][:type]
+      assert_equal "OK", response[:result][:content][0][:content]
+    end
+
+    test "tools/call validates arguments with complex types" do
+      server = Server.new(
+        tools: [ComplexTypesTool],
+        configuration: Configuration.new(validate_tool_call_arguments: true),
+      )
+
+      response = server.handle(
+        {
+          jsonrpc: "2.0",
+          id: 1,
+          method: "tools/call",
+          params: {
+            name: "complex_types_tool",
+            arguments: {
+              numbers: [1, 2, 3],
+              strings: ["a", "b", "c"],
+              objects: [{ name: "test" }],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      )
+
+      assert_equal "2.0", response[:jsonrpc]
+      assert_equal 1, response[:id]
+      assert response[:result], "Expected result key in response"
+      assert_equal "text", response[:result][:content][0][:type]
+      assert_equal "OK", response[:result][:content][0][:content]
+    end
+
+    class TestTool < Tool
+      tool_name "test_tool"
+      description "a test tool for testing"
+      input_schema({ properties: { message: { type: "string" } }, required: ["message"] })
+
+      class << self
+        def call(message:, server_context: nil)
+          Tool::Response.new([{ type: "text", content: "OK" }])
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    class ComplexTypesTool < Tool
+      tool_name "complex_types_tool"
+      description "a test tool with complex types"
+      input_schema({
+        properties: {
+          numbers: { type: "array", items: { type: "number" } },
+          strings: { type: "array", items: { type: "string" } },
+          objects: {
+            type: "array",
+            items: {
+              type: "object",
+              properties: {
+                name: { type: "string" },
+              },
+              required: ["name"],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        required: ["numbers", "strings", "objects"],
+      })
+
+      class << self
+        def call(numbers:, strings:, objects:, server_context: nil)
+          Tool::Response.new([{ type: "text", content: "OK" }])
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/mcp/tool/input_schema_test.rb b/test/mcp/tool/input_schema_test.rb
index 56463bd..791f955 100644
--- a/test/mcp/tool/input_schema_test.rb
+++ b/test/mcp/tool/input_schema_test.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 require "test_helper"
+require "mcp/tool/input_schema"
 
 module MCP
   class Tool
@@ -27,6 +28,51 @@ class InputSchemaTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
         input_schema = InputSchema.new(properties: { message: { type: "string" } }, required: [:message])
         assert_empty input_schema.missing_required_arguments({ message: "Hello, world!" })
       end
+
+      test "valid schema initialization" do
+        schema = InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { type: "string" } }, required: [:foo])
+        assert_equal({ type: "object", properties: { foo: { type: "string" } }, required: [:foo] }, schema.to_h)
+      end
+
+      test "invalid schema raises argument error" do
+        assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+          InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { type: "invalid_type" } }, required: [:foo])
+        end
+      end
+
+      test "validate arguments with valid data" do
+        schema = InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { type: "string" } }, required: [:foo])
+        assert_nil(schema.validate_arguments({ foo: "bar" }))
+      end
+
+      test "validate arguments with invalid data" do
+        schema = InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { type: "string" } }, required: [:foo])
+        assert_raises(InputSchema::ValidationError) do
+          schema.validate_arguments({ foo: 123 })
+        end
+      end
+
+      test "unexpected errors bubble up from validate_arguments" do
+        schema = InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { type: "string" } }, required: [:foo])
+
+        JSON::Validator.stub(:fully_validate, ->(*) { raise "unexpected error" }) do
+          assert_raises(RuntimeError) do
+            schema.validate_arguments({ foo: "bar" })
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      test "rejects schemas with $ref references" do
+        assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+          InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { "$ref" => "#/definitions/bar" } }, required: [:foo])
+        end
+      end
+
+      test "rejects schemas with symbol $ref references" do
+        assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+          InputSchema.new(properties: { foo: { :$ref => "#/definitions/bar" } }, required: [:foo])
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/mcp/tool_test.rb b/test/mcp/tool_test.rb
index f53352b..e87c826 100644
--- a/test/mcp/tool_test.rb
+++ b/test/mcp/tool_test.rb
@@ -82,6 +82,23 @@ class InputSchemaTool < Tool
       assert_equal expected, tool.input_schema.to_h
     end
 
+    test "raises detailed error message for invalid schema" do
+      error = assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+        Class.new(MCP::Tool) do
+          input_schema(
+            properties: {
+              count: { type: "integer", minimum: "not a number" },
+            },
+            required: [:count],
+          )
+        end
+      end
+
+      assert_includes error.message, "Invalid JSON Schema"
+      assert_includes error.message, "#/properties/count/minimum"
+      assert_includes error.message, "string did not match the following type: number"
+    end
+
     test ".define allows definition of simple tools with a block" do
       tool = Tool.define(name: "mock_tool", description: "a mock tool for testing") do |_|
         Tool::Response.new([{ type: "text", content: "OK" }])
@@ -226,5 +243,23 @@ def call(message:, server_context: nil)
       assert_equal response.content, [{ type: "text", content: "OK" }]
       assert_equal response.is_error, false
     end
+
+    test "input_schema rejects any $ref in schema" do
+      schema_with_ref = {
+        properties: {
+          foo: { "$ref" => "#/definitions/bar" },
+        },
+        required: ["foo"],
+        definitions: {
+          bar: { type: "string" },
+        },
+      }
+      error = assert_raises(ArgumentError) do
+        Class.new(MCP::Tool) do
+          input_schema schema_with_ref
+        end
+      end
+      assert_match(/Invalid JSON Schema/, error.message)
+    end
   end
 end