diff --git a/src/spotify_mcp/fastmcp_server.py b/src/spotify_mcp/fastmcp_server.py
index 3803ea4..9c38d1d 100644
--- a/src/spotify_mcp/fastmcp_server.py
+++ b/src/spotify_mcp/fastmcp_server.py
@@ -830,6 +830,13 @@ def get_artist_info(artist_id: str) -> ArtistInfo:
         raise convert_spotify_error(e) from e
 
 
+def _total_tracks(playlist_id: str, reported: object) -> int | None:
+    """Prefer the count Spotify reported, else read it off the items endpoint."""
+    if isinstance(reported, int):
+        return reported
+    return spotify_api.playlist_total(spotify_client, playlist_id)
+
+
 @mcp.tool(
     title="Get Playlist Info",
     annotations=ToolAnnotations(
@@ -864,7 +871,7 @@ def get_playlist_info(playlist_id: str) -> Playlist:
             owner=owner.get("display_name"),
             description=result.get("description"),
             tracks=None,  # No tracks - use get_playlist_tracks
-            total_tracks=tracks.get("total"),
+            total_tracks=_total_tracks(playlist_id, tracks.get("total")),
             public=result.get("public"),
         )
 
@@ -1607,7 +1614,7 @@ def playlist_resource(playlist_id: str) -> str:
             id=result["id"],
             owner=owner.get("display_name"),
             description=result.get("description"),
-            total_tracks=tracks.get("total"),
+            total_tracks=_total_tracks(playlist_id, tracks.get("total")),
             public=result.get("public"),
         ).model_dump_json()
     except Exception as e:
diff --git a/src/spotify_mcp/spotify_api.py b/src/spotify_mcp/spotify_api.py
index 6bb5f41..847ce3c 100644
--- a/src/spotify_mcp/spotify_api.py
+++ b/src/spotify_mcp/spotify_api.py
@@ -189,6 +189,19 @@ def playlist_items(
     )
 
 
+def playlist_total(sp: spotipy.Spotify, playlist_id: str) -> int | None:
+    """How many entries a playlist holds, or None if Spotify won't say.
+
+    `playlist(fields="tracks.total")` is the obvious source and does not work:
+    restricted apps get the field stripped, so it comes back absent (asking for
+    it alone yields a bare `{}`). A one-item page of the items endpoint still
+    reports the real `total`, so read it from there.
+    """
+    page = playlist_items(sp, playlist_id, limit=1, offset=0)
+    total = page.get("total")
+    return total if isinstance(total, int) else None
+
+
 def create_playlist(
     sp: spotipy.Spotify, name: str, description: str, public: bool
 ) -> dict:
diff --git a/tests/test_fastmcp_tools.py b/tests/test_fastmcp_tools.py
index c1c24ff..cc73397 100644
--- a/tests/test_fastmcp_tools.py
+++ b/tests/test_fastmcp_tools.py
@@ -382,6 +382,19 @@ def test_success(self, mock_spotify_api, sample_playlist_data):
             "37i9dQZF1DX0XUsuxWHRQd",
             fields="id,name,description,owner,public,tracks.total",
         )
+        # a reported count is trusted, so no extra lookup is made
+        mock_spotify_api._get.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_the_items_endpoint_for_a_stripped_count(
+        self, mock_spotify_api, sample_playlist_data
+    ):
+        """Restricted apps get `tracks.total` stripped; total_tracks must still fill."""
+        mock_spotify_api.playlist.return_value = {**sample_playlist_data, "tracks": {}}
+        mock_spotify_api._get.return_value = {"items": [], "total": 65}
+
+        result = get_playlist_info("37i9dQZF1DX0XUsuxWHRQd")
+
+        assert result.total_tracks == 65
 
     def test_spotify_error(self, mock_spotify_api):
         mock_spotify_api.playlist.side_effect = SPOTIFY_ERROR
@@ -856,6 +869,16 @@ def test_playlist_resource(self, mock_spotify_api, sample_playlist_data):
 
         assert result["name"] == "RapCaviar"
 
+    def test_playlist_resource_fills_a_stripped_count(
+        self, mock_spotify_api, sample_playlist_data
+    ):
+        mock_spotify_api.playlist.return_value = {**sample_playlist_data, "tracks": {}}
+        mock_spotify_api._get.return_value = {"items": [], "total": 65}
+
+        result = json.loads(playlist_resource("pl1"))
+
+        assert result["total_tracks"] == 65
+
     def test_artist_resource(self, mock_spotify_api, sample_artist_data):
         mock_spotify_api.artist.return_value = sample_artist_data