diff --git a/langfuse/_client/client.py b/langfuse/_client/client.py
index 55a9667e3..ae5eba235 100644
--- a/langfuse/_client/client.py
+++ b/langfuse/_client/client.py
@@ -1664,7 +1664,7 @@ def update_current_trace(
 
         current_otel_span = self._get_current_otel_span()
 
-        if current_otel_span is not None:
+        if current_otel_span is not None and current_otel_span.is_recording():
             existing_observation_type = current_otel_span.attributes.get(  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
                 LangfuseOtelSpanAttributes.OBSERVATION_TYPE, "span"
             )