diff --git a/lib/utils.ts b/lib/utils.ts
index 18d0c6c..89ba67a 100644
--- a/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/lib/utils.ts
@@ -674,13 +674,18 @@ export function applyDiagramOperations(
             collectDescendants(op.cell_id)
 
             // Find edges referencing any of the cells to be deleted
+            // Also recursively collect children of those edges (e.g., edge labels)
             for (const cellId of cellsToDelete) {
                 const referencingEdges = root.querySelectorAll(
                     `mxCell[source="${cellId}"], mxCell[target="${cellId}"]`,
                 )
                 referencingEdges.forEach((edge) => {
                     const edgeId = edge.getAttribute("id")
-                    if (edgeId) cellsToDelete.add(edgeId)
+                    // Protect root cells from being added via edge references
+                    if (edgeId && edgeId !== "0" && edgeId !== "1") {
+                        // Recurse to collect edge's children (like labels)
+                        collectDescendants(edgeId)
+                    }
                 })
             }
 
diff --git a/packages/mcp-server/package.json b/packages/mcp-server/package.json
index 7239235..c0d5b81 100644
--- a/packages/mcp-server/package.json
+++ b/packages/mcp-server/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name": "@next-ai-drawio/mcp-server",
-    "version": "0.1.9",
+    "version": "0.1.10",
     "description": "MCP server for Next AI Draw.io - AI-powered diagram generation with real-time browser preview",
     "type": "module",
     "main": "dist/index.js",
diff --git a/packages/mcp-server/src/diagram-operations.ts b/packages/mcp-server/src/diagram-operations.ts
index 511bb4e..93225fc 100644
--- a/packages/mcp-server/src/diagram-operations.ts
+++ b/packages/mcp-server/src/diagram-operations.ts
@@ -223,13 +223,18 @@ export function applyDiagramOperations(
             collectDescendants(op.cell_id)
 
             // Find edges referencing any of the cells to be deleted
+            // Also recursively collect children of those edges (e.g., edge labels)
             for (const cellId of cellsToDelete) {
                 const referencingEdges = root.querySelectorAll(
                     `mxCell[source="${cellId}"], mxCell[target="${cellId}"]`,
                 )
                 referencingEdges.forEach((edge) => {
                     const edgeId = edge.getAttribute("id")
-                    if (edgeId) cellsToDelete.add(edgeId)
+                    // Protect root cells from being added via edge references
+                    if (edgeId && edgeId !== "0" && edgeId !== "1") {
+                        // Recurse to collect edge's children (like labels)
+                        collectDescendants(edgeId)
+                    }
                 })
             }