diff --git a/src/filesystem/__tests__/structured-content.test.ts b/src/filesystem/__tests__/structured-content.test.ts
index 4b8f92b0a3..0cc56f1964 100644
--- a/src/filesystem/__tests__/structured-content.test.ts
+++ b/src/filesystem/__tests__/structured-content.test.ts
@@ -155,4 +155,49 @@ describe('structuredContent schema compliance', () => {
       expect(Array.isArray(structuredContent.content)).toBe(false);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('read_media_file (issue #4029)', () => {
+    it('returns type: "image" for image files (valid MCP content type)', async () => {
+      // 1x1 transparent PNG (base64)
+      const pngBase64 =
+        'iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=';
+      const pngPath = path.join(testDir, 'pixel.png');
+      await fs.writeFile(pngPath, Buffer.from(pngBase64, 'base64'));
+
+      const result = await client.callTool({
+        name: 'read_media_file',
+        arguments: { path: pngPath }
+      });
+
+      const content = result.content as Array<{ type: string }>;
+      expect(Array.isArray(content)).toBe(true);
+      expect(content[0].type).toBe('image');
+      // 'blob' is NOT a valid MCP content type per the spec.
+      expect(content[0].type).not.toBe('blob');
+    });
+
+    it('returns type: "resource" for non-image/audio binaries (valid MCP content type)', async () => {
+      const binPath = path.join(testDir, 'data.bin');
+      await fs.writeFile(binPath, Buffer.from([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03]));
+
+      const result = await client.callTool({
+        name: 'read_media_file',
+        arguments: { path: binPath }
+      });
+
+      const content = result.content as Array<{
+        type: string;
+        resource?: { uri: string; mimeType: string; blob: string };
+      }>;
+      expect(Array.isArray(content)).toBe(true);
+      // Must be a valid MCP content type (text | image | audio | resource_link | resource).
+      expect(['image', 'audio', 'resource']).toContain(content[0].type);
+      expect(content[0].type).not.toBe('blob');
+      if (content[0].type === 'resource') {
+        expect(content[0].resource).toBeDefined();
+        expect(typeof content[0].resource!.uri).toBe('string');
+        expect(typeof content[0].resource!.blob).toBe('string');
+      }
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/filesystem/index.ts b/src/filesystem/index.ts
index 7b67e63e58..ba69fe2495 100644
--- a/src/filesystem/index.ts
+++ b/src/filesystem/index.ts
@@ -256,11 +256,21 @@ server.registerTool(
       path: z.string()
     },
     outputSchema: {
-      content: z.array(z.object({
-        type: z.enum(["image", "audio", "blob"]),
-        data: z.string(),
-        mimeType: z.string()
-      }))
+      content: z.array(z.union([
+        z.object({
+          type: z.enum(["image", "audio"]),
+          data: z.string(),
+          mimeType: z.string()
+        }),
+        z.object({
+          type: z.literal("resource"),
+          resource: z.object({
+            uri: z.string(),
+            mimeType: z.string(),
+            blob: z.string()
+          })
+        })
+      ]))
     },
     annotations: { readOnlyHint: true }
   },
@@ -283,13 +293,21 @@ server.registerTool(
     const mimeType = mimeTypes[extension] || "application/octet-stream";
     const data = await readFileAsBase64Stream(validPath);
 
-    const type = mimeType.startsWith("image/")
-      ? "image"
+    // Map MIME type to a valid MCP content type. The spec only allows
+    // text, image, audio, resource_link, and resource. Non-image/audio
+    // binaries are returned as an embedded resource so clients accept them.
+    const contentItem = mimeType.startsWith("image/")
+      ? { type: "image" as const, data, mimeType }
       : mimeType.startsWith("audio/")
-        ? "audio"
-        // Fallback for other binary types, not officially supported by the spec but has been used for some time
-        : "blob";
-    const contentItem = { type: type as 'image' | 'audio' | 'blob', data, mimeType };
+        ? { type: "audio" as const, data, mimeType }
+        : {
+            type: "resource" as const,
+            resource: {
+              uri: `file://${validPath}`,
+              mimeType,
+              blob: data
+            }
+          };
     return {
       content: [contentItem],
       structuredContent: { content: [contentItem] }