diff --git a/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/streaming.py b/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/streaming.py
index 8e1916b4b..8bf88e46b 100644
--- a/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/streaming.py
+++ b/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/streaming.py
@@ -80,18 +80,6 @@ from .utils import (
 logger = get_logger(name=__name__, category="agents::meta_reference")
 
 
-def _convert_authorization_to_headers(authorization: str) -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Convert authorization string to HTTP headers.
-
-    Args:
-        authorization: Authorization header value (e.g., "Bearer token")
-
-    Returns:
-        Dictionary of HTTP headers with Authorization header
-    """
-    return {"Authorization": authorization}
-
-
 def convert_tooldef_to_chat_tool(tool_def):
     """Convert a ToolDef to OpenAI ChatCompletionToolParam format.
 
@@ -1094,12 +1082,10 @@ class StreamingResponseOrchestrator:
             # Prepare headers with authorization from tool config
             headers = dict(mcp_tool.headers or {})
             if mcp_tool.authorization:
-                auth_headers = _convert_authorization_to_headers(mcp_tool.authorization)
-                # Don't override existing headers (case-insensitive check)
+                # Don't override existing Authorization header (case-insensitive check)
                 existing_keys_lower = {k.lower() for k in headers.keys()}
-                for key, value in auth_headers.items():
-                    if key.lower() not in existing_keys_lower:
-                        headers[key] = value
+                if "authorization" not in existing_keys_lower:
+                    headers["Authorization"] = mcp_tool.authorization
 
             async with tracing.span("list_mcp_tools", attributes):
                 tool_defs = await list_mcp_tools(
diff --git a/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/tool_executor.py b/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/tool_executor.py
index a0346fe53..d6ec0e849 100644
--- a/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/tool_executor.py
+++ b/src/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/tool_executor.py
@@ -47,18 +47,6 @@ from .types import ChatCompletionContext, ToolExecutionResult
 logger = get_logger(name=__name__, category="agents::meta_reference")
 
 
-def _convert_authorization_to_headers(authorization: str) -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Convert authorization string to HTTP headers.
-
-    Args:
-        authorization: Authorization header value (e.g., "Bearer token")
-
-    Returns:
-        Dictionary of HTTP headers with Authorization header
-    """
-    return {"Authorization": authorization}
-
-
 class ToolExecutor:
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -314,12 +302,10 @@ class ToolExecutor:
                 # Prepare headers with authorization from tool config
                 headers = dict(mcp_tool.headers or {})
                 if mcp_tool.authorization:
-                    auth_headers = _convert_authorization_to_headers(mcp_tool.authorization)
-                    # Don't override existing headers (case-insensitive check)
+                    # Don't override existing Authorization header (case-insensitive check)
                     existing_keys_lower = {k.lower() for k in headers.keys()}
-                    for key, value in auth_headers.items():
-                        if key.lower() not in existing_keys_lower:
-                            headers[key] = value
+                    if "authorization" not in existing_keys_lower:
+                        headers["Authorization"] = mcp_tool.authorization
 
                 async with tracing.span("invoke_mcp_tool", attributes):
                     result = await invoke_mcp_tool(