diff --git a/packages/http-client-csharp/generator/Microsoft.TypeSpec.Generator.Input/src/InputTypes/Serialization/Utf8JsonReaderExtensions.cs b/packages/http-client-csharp/generator/Microsoft.TypeSpec.Generator.Input/src/InputTypes/Serialization/Utf8JsonReaderExtensions.cs
index 12e488d7c9c..00124c64137 100644
--- a/packages/http-client-csharp/generator/Microsoft.TypeSpec.Generator.Input/src/InputTypes/Serialization/Utf8JsonReaderExtensions.cs
+++ b/packages/http-client-csharp/generator/Microsoft.TypeSpec.Generator.Input/src/InputTypes/Serialization/Utf8JsonReaderExtensions.cs
@@ -164,9 +164,15 @@ public static bool TryReadComplexType<T>(this ref Utf8JsonReader reader, string
                 throw new JsonException();
             }
             reader.Read();
+            string? id = null;
             var result = new Dictionary<string, T>();
             while (reader.TokenType != JsonTokenType.EndObject)
             {
+                // Skip $id metadata (reference tracking), just like TryReadReferenceId does
+                if (reader.TryReadReferenceId(ref id))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 var key = reader.GetString() ?? throw new JsonException("Dictionary key cannot be null");
                 reader.Read();
                 var item = reader.ReadWithConverter<T>(options);