diff --git a/oauthex/resource_meta.go b/oauthex/resource_meta.go
index 31d6b37c9..77e68a74a 100644
--- a/oauthex/resource_meta.go
+++ b/oauthex/resource_meta.go
@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@ func splitChallenges(header string) ([]string, error) {
 			// This is a potential challenge separator.
 			// A new challenge does not start with `key=value`.
 			// We check if the part after the comma looks like a parameter.
-			lookahead := strings.TrimSpace(header[i+1:])
+			// Empty list elements are skipped (RFC 9110, section 5.6.1).
+			lookahead := strings.TrimLeft(header[i+1:], ", \t")
 			eqPos := strings.Index(lookahead, "=")
 
 			isParam := false
@@ -240,7 +241,8 @@ func parseSingleChallenge(s string) (Challenge, error) {
 
 	params := make(map[string]string)
 
-	// Parse the key-value parameters.
+	// Parse the key-value parameters, skipping any leading empty list elements.
+	paramsStr = strings.TrimLeft(paramsStr, ", \t")
 	for paramsStr != "" {
 		// Find the end of the parameter key.
 		keyEnd := strings.Index(paramsStr, "=")
@@ -299,9 +301,10 @@ func parseSingleChallenge(s string) (Challenge, error) {
 		// Per RFC 9110, parameter keys are case-insensitive.
 		params[strings.ToLower(key)] = value
 
-		// If there is a comma, consume it and continue to the next parameter.
+		// If there is a comma, consume it, along with any empty list elements
+		// that follow it, and continue to the next parameter.
 		if strings.HasPrefix(paramsStr, ",") {
-			paramsStr = strings.TrimSpace(paramsStr[1:])
+			paramsStr = strings.TrimLeft(paramsStr, ", \t")
 		} else if paramsStr != "" {
 			// If there's content but it's not a new parameter, the format is wrong.
 			return Challenge{}, fmt.Errorf("malformed auth parameter: expected comma after value, but got %q", paramsStr)
diff --git a/oauthex/resource_meta_test.go b/oauthex/resource_meta_test.go
index dcac67407..794f714c2 100644
--- a/oauthex/resource_meta_test.go
+++ b/oauthex/resource_meta_test.go
@@ -53,6 +53,16 @@ func TestSplitChallenges(t *testing.T) {
 			input: `Basic realm="C:\\", Bearer error="insufficient_scope"`,
 			want:  []string{`Basic realm="C:\\"`, ` Bearer error="insufficient_scope"`},
 		},
+		{
+			name:  "empty list element between params",
+			input: `Bearer realm="example",, error="insufficient_scope"`,
+			want:  []string{`Bearer realm="example",, error="insufficient_scope"`},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "empty list element between challenges",
+			input: `Basic, , Bearer realm="example"`,
+			want:  []string{`Basic`, ` `, ` Bearer realm="example"`},
+		},
 		{
 			name:  "empty input",
 			input: "",
@@ -117,6 +127,28 @@ func TestParseWWWAuthenticateEmptyQuotedValue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Recipients must accept empty list elements (RFC 9110, section 5.6.1).
+// An extra comma must not move error="insufficient_scope" out of the Bearer
+// challenge, or the auth handler would not start step-up authorization.
+func TestParseWWWAuthenticateEmptyListElements(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := ParseWWWAuthenticate([]string{
+		`, Basic realm="a",, Bearer , realm="b",, error="insufficient_scope",`,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := []Challenge{
+		{Scheme: "basic", Params: map[string]string{"realm": "a"}},
+		{Scheme: "bearer", Params: map[string]string{
+			"realm": "b",
+			"error": "insufficient_scope",
+		}},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("ParseWWWAuthenticate() = %+v, want %+v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSplitChallengesError(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := splitChallenges(`"Bearer"`); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("got nil, want error")