diff --git a/manifests/cpp_httpd.yml b/manifests/cpp_httpd.yml
index 766eb583297..a73ea21524a 100644
--- a/manifests/cpp_httpd.yml
+++ b/manifests/cpp_httpd.yml
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_protobuf.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v1.0.0  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction::test_sample_rate_function: missing_feature (/sample_rate_route is not implemented)
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v1.0.0  # real version unknown
diff --git a/manifests/cpp_kong.yml b/manifests/cpp_kong.yml
index 88fe2fcc098..bc42b037a04 100644
--- a/manifests/cpp_kong.yml
+++ b/manifests/cpp_kong.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_protobuf.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_scrubbing.py: irrelevant
   tests/test_semantic_conventions.py: missing_feature
diff --git a/manifests/cpp_nginx.yml b/manifests/cpp_nginx.yml
index 6b21e5f0d89..fe617fe7d81 100644
--- a/manifests/cpp_nginx.yml
+++ b/manifests/cpp_nginx.yml
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_protobuf.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v1.0.0  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v1.0.0  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: v1.0.0  # real version unknown
diff --git a/manifests/dotnet.yml b/manifests/dotnet.yml
index 84b3ed15b4f..cf5a65083b1 100644
--- a/manifests/dotnet.yml
+++ b/manifests/dotnet.yml
@@ -1094,6 +1094,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_protobuf.py::Test_Protobuf: v3.15.0
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v3.11.1  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v3.11.1  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: v3.11.1  # real version unknown
diff --git a/manifests/golang.yml b/manifests/golang.yml
index 1002edf1b15..df8d35d61f9 100644
--- a/manifests/golang.yml
+++ b/manifests/golang.yml
@@ -1316,6 +1316,7 @@ manifest:
         net-http: v2.4.0
         net-http-orchestrion: v2.4.0
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: v2.7.0-dev
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v1.72.1  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v1.72.1  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: v1.72.1  # real version unknown
diff --git a/manifests/java.yml b/manifests/java.yml
index 68a75b57b3d..e637f673f03 100644
--- a/manifests/java.yml
+++ b/manifests/java.yml
@@ -4056,6 +4056,7 @@ manifest:
     - weblog_declaration:
         "*": irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for spring-boot)
         spring-boot: v1.49.0
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: v1.60.0-SNAPSHOT+c95286e6a5
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction:
     - weblog_declaration:
         "*": v1.49.0
diff --git a/manifests/nodejs.yml b/manifests/nodejs.yml
index 8f3338ed646..1fb14eeef64 100644
--- a/manifests/nodejs.yml
+++ b/manifests/nodejs.yml
@@ -2212,6 +2212,7 @@ manifest:
         nextjs: missing_feature
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py::Test_Resource_Renaming_Stats_Aggregation_Keys::test_stats_aggregation_with_method_and_endpoint: flaky (APPSEC-61406)
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: *ref_5_54_0
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: *ref_5_17_0
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: *ref_5_54_0
diff --git a/manifests/php.yml b/manifests/php.yml
index 64db4eba274..1da726152d2 100644
--- a/manifests/php.yml
+++ b/manifests/php.yml
@@ -935,6 +935,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py: v1.14.0
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py::Test_Resource_Renaming_Stats_Aggregation_Keys: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v1.13.0+4663b2fa7c20c6920f347d059b57dc2a419cb7f7
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v1.7.2  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: v1.13.0+4663b2fa7c20c6920f347d059b57dc2a419cb7f7
diff --git a/manifests/python.yml b/manifests/python.yml
index 3bf2a70bba3..35bcf795bec 100644
--- a/manifests/python.yml
+++ b/manifests/python.yml
@@ -1961,6 +1961,7 @@ manifest:
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py::Test_Resource_Renaming_Stats_Aggregation_Keys: v3.17.0
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py::Test_Resource_Renaming_Stats_Aggregation_Keys::test_stats_aggregation_with_method_and_endpoint: v4.5.0
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction:
     - weblog_declaration:
         "*": v3.6.0+dev
diff --git a/manifests/ruby.yml b/manifests/ruby.yml
index b48f3f19929..893c1f3df24 100644
--- a/manifests/ruby.yml
+++ b/manifests/ruby.yml
@@ -1840,6 +1840,7 @@ manifest:
         uds-sinatra: irrelevant
   tests/test_resource_renaming.py::Test_Resource_Renaming_Stats_Aggregation_Keys: missing_feature
   tests/test_rum_injection.py: irrelevant (RUM injection only supported for Java)
+  tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py::Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease: missing_feature
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SampleRateFunction: v2.15.0  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisionAdded: v2.12.1  # real version unknown
   tests/test_sampling_rates.py::Test_SamplingDecisions: v2.15.0  # real version unknown
diff --git a/tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py b/tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a85b35b514d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sampling_rate_capping.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+# Unless explicitly stated otherwise all files in this repository are licensed under the the Apache License Version 2.0.
+# This product includes software developed at Datadog (https://www.datadoghq.com/).
+# Copyright 2021 Datadog, Inc.
+
+import time
+
+import requests
+
+from utils import weblog, interfaces, scenarios, features, logger
+from utils.proxy.mocked_response import (
+    MOCKED_TRACER_RESPONSES_PATH,
+    SequentialJsonMockedTracerResponse,
+    _get_proxy_domain,
+)
+from utils.proxy.ports import ProxyPorts
+
+
+LOW_RATE = 0.1
+HIGH_RATE = 1.0
+
+
+def _send_mocked_tracer_responses(mocks: list) -> None:
+    """Send multiple mocked tracer responses in a single PUT request."""
+    domain = _get_proxy_domain()
+    response = requests.put(
+        f"http://{domain}:{ProxyPorts.proxy_commands}{MOCKED_TRACER_RESPONSES_PATH}",
+        json=[m.to_json() for m in mocks],
+        timeout=30,
+    )
+    response.raise_for_status()
+
+
+@scenarios.sampling_rate_capping
+@features.ensure_that_sampling_is_consistent_across_languages
+class Test_SamplingRateCappedIncrease:
+    """When the agent returns a new higher sampling rate, the tracer should not jump directly
+    to the new rate. Instead, it should cap increases to 2x per flush interval, ramping up
+    gradually (e.g. 0.1 -> 0.2 -> 0.4 -> 0.8 -> 1.0).
+    """
+
+    NUM_LOW_RATE_RESPONSES = 3
+    NUM_HIGH_RATE_RESPONSES = 30
+
+    def setup_sampling_rate_capped_increase(self):
+        low_rate_response = {"rate_by_service": {"service:,env:": LOW_RATE}}
+        high_rate_response = {"rate_by_service": {"service:,env:": HIGH_RATE}}
+
+        sequence = [low_rate_response] * self.NUM_LOW_RATE_RESPONSES + [
+            high_rate_response
+        ] * self.NUM_HIGH_RATE_RESPONSES
+
+        # Send mocks for both trace endpoints in one call to avoid overwriting
+        mocks = [
+            SequentialJsonMockedTracerResponse(path="/v0.4/traces", mocked_json_sequence=sequence),
+            SequentialJsonMockedTracerResponse(path="/v0.5/traces", mocked_json_sequence=sequence),
+        ]
+        _send_mocked_tracer_responses(mocks)
+
+        # Generate initial traffic until the tracer picks up the low rate
+        for i in range(40):
+            weblog.get(f"/sample_rate_route/{i}")
+
+        # Wait for a span with the low agent_psr to appear
+        def wait_for_low_rate(_data: dict) -> bool:
+            for _, span in interfaces.library.get_root_spans():
+                agent_psr = span.get("metrics", {}).get("_dd.agent_psr")
+                if agent_psr is not None and abs(agent_psr - LOW_RATE) < 0.01:
+                    return True
+            return False
+
+        interfaces.library.wait_for(wait_for_low_rate, timeout=30)
+
+        # Record how many spans exist before the ramp-up phase
+        self._spans_before_ramp = sum(1 for _ in interfaces.library.get_root_spans())
+
+        # Generate traffic in bursts to trigger multiple flush cycles during ramp-up
+        # Each burst sends requests, then sleeps to allow the tracer to flush and receive
+        # the next mocked response, which should trigger a capped rate increase.
+        request_idx = 100
+        for _ in range(10):
+            for _j in range(20):
+                weblog.get(f"/sample_rate_route/{request_idx}")
+                request_idx += 1
+            time.sleep(2)
+
+        # Wait for a span with the high rate that appeared AFTER the low-rate phase
+        def wait_for_high_rate_after_ramp(_data: dict) -> bool:
+            for idx, (_, span) in enumerate(interfaces.library.get_root_spans()):
+                if idx < self._spans_before_ramp:
+                    continue
+                agent_psr = span.get("metrics", {}).get("_dd.agent_psr")
+                if agent_psr is not None and abs(agent_psr - HIGH_RATE) < 0.01:
+                    return True
+            return False
+
+        interfaces.library.wait_for(wait_for_high_rate_after_ramp, timeout=40)
+
+    def test_sampling_rate_capped_increase(self):
+        """Verify that the tracer ramps up sampling rate gradually instead of jumping directly."""
+        # Only look at spans from AFTER the low-rate phase to avoid the default 1.0 at startup
+        agent_psr_values = set()
+
+        for idx, (_, span) in enumerate(interfaces.library.get_root_spans()):
+            if idx < self._spans_before_ramp:
+                continue
+            agent_psr = span.get("metrics", {}).get("_dd.agent_psr")
+            if agent_psr is not None:
+                agent_psr_values.add(round(agent_psr, 4))
+
+        logger.info(f"Observed _dd.agent_psr values (ramp phase): {sorted(agent_psr_values)}")
+
+        assert any(abs(v - LOW_RATE) < 0.01 for v in agent_psr_values), (
+            f"Expected to see the low rate ({LOW_RATE}) in _dd.agent_psr values: {sorted(agent_psr_values)}"
+        )
+        assert any(abs(v - HIGH_RATE) < 0.01 for v in agent_psr_values), (
+            f"Expected to see the high rate ({HIGH_RATE}) in _dd.agent_psr values: {sorted(agent_psr_values)}"
+        )
+
+        # Key assertion: at least one intermediate value strictly between LOW_RATE and HIGH_RATE
+        intermediate_values = [v for v in agent_psr_values if LOW_RATE + 0.01 < v < HIGH_RATE - 0.01]
+        assert len(intermediate_values) > 0, (
+            f"Expected at least one intermediate _dd.agent_psr value between {LOW_RATE} and {HIGH_RATE}, "
+            f"but only saw: {sorted(agent_psr_values)}. "
+            "The tracer should cap sampling rate increases to 2x per interval, not jump directly."
+        )
diff --git a/utils/_context/_scenarios/__init__.py b/utils/_context/_scenarios/__init__.py
index ca1e06a7e9b..048384bf5d1 100644
--- a/utils/_context/_scenarios/__init__.py
+++ b/utils/_context/_scenarios/__init__.py
@@ -126,6 +126,13 @@ class _Scenarios:
         scenario_groups=[scenario_groups.sampling],
     )
 
+    sampling_rate_capping = EndToEndScenario(
+        "SAMPLING_RATE_CAPPING",
+        weblog_env={"DD_TRACE_RATE_LIMIT": "10000000", "DD_TRACE_STATS_COMPUTATION_ENABLED": "false"},
+        doc="Test that tracers cap sampling rate increases to 2x per interval when agent restarts",
+        scenario_groups=[scenario_groups.sampling],
+    )
+
     trace_propagation_style_w3c = EndToEndScenario(
         "TRACE_PROPAGATION_STYLE_W3C",
         weblog_env={
diff --git a/utils/proxy/mocked_response.py b/utils/proxy/mocked_response.py
index fbcc56654c3..1a8b83407de 100644
--- a/utils/proxy/mocked_response.py
+++ b/utils/proxy/mocked_response.py
@@ -218,6 +218,41 @@ def to_json(self) -> dict:
         }
 
 
+class SequentialJsonMockedTracerResponse(MockedTracerResponse):
+    """Overwrites JSON content on requests to a given path with a sequence of predefined responses.
+
+    Uses a global counter (not per-runtime_id). When the sequence is exhausted,
+    the last element is returned for all subsequent requests.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, path: str, mocked_json_sequence: list[dict]):
+        super().__init__(path=path, mocked_headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"})
+        self.mocked_json_sequence = mocked_json_sequence
+        """Sequence of JSON responses to return"""
+
+        self._request_count: int = 0
+        """Tracks how many requests have been made"""
+
+    def execute(self, flow: HTTPFlow) -> None:
+        super().execute(flow)
+
+        idx = min(self._request_count, len(self.mocked_json_sequence) - 1)
+        response = self.mocked_json_sequence[idx]
+
+        flow.response.content = json.dumps(response).encode()
+        flow.response.headers["st-proxy-sequential-response-idx"] = str(idx)
+
+        if self._request_count < len(self.mocked_json_sequence) - 1:
+            self._request_count += 1
+
+    def to_json(self) -> dict:
+        return {
+            "type": self.__class__.__name__,
+            "path": self.path,
+            "mocked_json_sequence": self.mocked_json_sequence,
+        }
+
+
 class _InternalMockedTracerResponse(MockedTracerResponse):
     """Tracer mocked responses that will be applied on the entire test session.