diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/aio_pika.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/aio_pika.py
index db6b7586..6dbe5778 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/aio_pika.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/aio_pika.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
     from instana.log import logger
     from instana.propagators.format import Format
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ async def publish_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> Optional["ConfirmationFrameType"]:
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if not tracer:
             return await wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         def _bind_args(
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/aioamqp.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/aioamqp.py
index 01efdc4a..a54efca6 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/aioamqp.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/aioamqp.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     from opentelemetry.trace.status import StatusCode
 
     from instana.log import logger
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper("aioamqp.channel", "Channel.basic_publish")
     async def basic_publish_with_instana(
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ async def basic_publish_with_instana(
         argv: Tuple[object, Tuple[object, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if not tracer:
             return await wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
         with tracer.start_as_current_span(
             "aioamqp-publisher", span_context=parent_context
@@ -57,11 +57,11 @@ async def basic_consume_with_instana(
         argv: Tuple[object, Tuple[object, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if not tracer:
             return await wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
 
         callback = argv[0]
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         @wrapt.decorator
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/aiohttp/client.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/aiohttp/client.py
index 667c2620..f30adf52 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/aiohttp/client.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/aiohttp/client.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from instana.propagators.format import Format
 from instana.singletons import agent
 from instana.util.secrets import strip_secrets_from_query
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off, extract_custom_headers
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, extract_custom_headers
 
 try:
     import aiohttp
@@ -21,17 +21,16 @@
         from aiohttp.client import ClientSession
         from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
 
-
     async def stan_request_start(
         session: "ClientSession", trace_config_ctx: SimpleNamespace, params
     ) -> Awaitable[None]:
         try:
+            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
             # If we're not tracing, just return
-            if tracing_is_off():
+            if not tracer:
                 trace_config_ctx.span_context = None
                 return
 
-            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
             parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
             span = tracer.start_span("aiohttp-client", span_context=parent_context)
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/asyncio.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/asyncio.py
index 070dfe85..3b7ec48c 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/asyncio.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/asyncio.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import time
 from contextlib import contextmanager
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterator, Tuple
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, Iterator, Tuple
 
 import wrapt
 from opentelemetry.trace import use_span
@@ -13,11 +13,14 @@
 from instana.configurator import config
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 try:
     import asyncio
 
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        from instana.tracer import InstanaTracer
+
     @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper("asyncio", "ensure_future")
     def ensure_future_with_instana(
         wrapped: Callable[..., asyncio.ensure_future],
@@ -25,13 +28,11 @@ def ensure_future_with_instana(
         argv: Tuple[object, Tuple[object, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
-        if (
-            not config["asyncio_task_context_propagation"]["enabled"]
-            or tracing_is_off()
-        ):
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if not config["asyncio_task_context_propagation"]["enabled"] or not tracer:
             return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
 
-        with _start_as_current_async_span() as span:
+        with _start_as_current_async_span(tracer, parent_span) as span:
             try:
                 span.set_status(StatusCode.OK)
                 return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
@@ -47,13 +48,11 @@ def create_task_with_instana(
             argv: Tuple[object, Tuple[object, ...]],
             kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
         ) -> object:
-            if (
-                not config["asyncio_task_context_propagation"]["enabled"]
-                or tracing_is_off()
-            ):
+            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+            if not config["asyncio_task_context_propagation"]["enabled"] or not tracer:
                 return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
 
-            with _start_as_current_async_span() as span:
+            with _start_as_current_async_span(tracer, parent_span) as span:
                 try:
                     span.set_status(StatusCode.OK)
                     return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
@@ -61,12 +60,14 @@ def create_task_with_instana(
                     logger.debug(f"asyncio create_task_with_instana error: {exc}")
 
     @contextmanager
-    def _start_as_current_async_span() -> Iterator[InstanaSpan]:
+    def _start_as_current_async_span(
+        tracer: "InstanaTracer",
+        parent_span: "InstanaSpan",
+    ) -> Iterator[InstanaSpan]:
         """
         Creates and yield a special InstanaSpan to only propagate the Asyncio
         context.
         """
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         _time = time.time_ns()
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/boto3.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/boto3.py
index a41c7b87..e29dc2ca 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/boto3.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/boto3.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
         from botocore.client import BaseClient
 
         from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
+        from instana.tracer import InstanaTracer
 
     import json
 
@@ -22,14 +23,16 @@
     from instana.log import logger
     from instana.propagators.format import Format
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
-    from instana.span.span import get_current_span
     from instana.util.traceutils import (
         extract_custom_headers,
         get_tracer_tuple,
-        tracing_is_off,
     )
 
-    def lambda_inject_context(payload: Dict[str, Any], span: "InstanaSpan") -> None:
+    def lambda_inject_context(
+        tracer: "InstanaTracer",
+        payload: Dict[str, Any],
+        span: "InstanaSpan",
+    ) -> None:
         """
         When boto3 lambda client 'Invoke' is called, we want to inject the tracing context.
         boto3/botocore has specific requirements:
@@ -54,9 +57,9 @@ def emit_add_auth_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> Callable[..., None]:
-        current_span = get_current_span()
-        if not tracing_is_off() and current_span and current_span.is_recording():
-            extract_custom_headers(current_span, args[0].headers)
+        _, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if parent_span:
+            extract_custom_headers(parent_span, args[0].headers)
         return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
     @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper("botocore.client", "BaseClient._make_api_call")
@@ -66,12 +69,11 @@ def make_api_call_with_instana(
         args: Sequence[Dict[str, Any]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         if instance.meta.service_model.service_name == "dynamodb":
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ def make_api_call_with_instana(
 
                 # Inject context when invoking lambdas
                 if "lambda" in instance._endpoint.host and operation == "Invoke":
-                    lambda_inject_context(payload, span)
+                    lambda_inject_context(tracer, payload, span)
 
                 try:
                     result = wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/s3.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/s3.py
index 78ac17fe..59123ffd 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/s3.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/aws/s3.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
     from instana.util.traceutils import (
         get_tracer_tuple,
-        tracing_is_off,
     )
 
     operations = {
@@ -48,12 +47,11 @@ def collect_s3_injected_attributes(
         args: Sequence[object],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> Callable[..., object]:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("s3", span_context=parent_context) as span:
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/cassandra.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/cassandra.py
index 2ad9d768..8feaca11 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/cassandra.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/cassandra.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     import wrapt
 
     from instana.log import logger
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
         from cassandra.cluster import ResponseFuture, Session
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ def request_init_with_instana(
         fn: "ResponseFuture",
     ) -> None:
         tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
-
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return
 
+        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
+
         attributes = {}
         if isinstance(fn.query, cassandra.query.SimpleStatement):
             attributes["cassandra.query"] = fn.query.query_string
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/celery.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/celery.py
index 16589175..e709950d 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/celery.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/celery.py
@@ -145,40 +145,42 @@ def before_task_publish(
     ) -> None:
         try:
             tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+            if not tracer:
+                return
+
             parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
-            if tracer:
-                body = kwargs["body"]
-                headers = kwargs["headers"]
-                task_name = kwargs["sender"]
-                task = registry.tasks.get(task_name)
-                task_id = _get_task_id(headers, body)
-
-                span = tracer.start_span("celery-client", span_context=parent_context)
-                span.set_attribute("task", task_name)
-                span.set_attribute("task_id", task_id)
-                add_broker_attributes(span, task.app.conf["broker_url"])
-
-                # Context propagation
-                context_headers = {}
-                tracer.inject(
-                    span.context,
-                    Format.HTTP_HEADERS,
-                    context_headers,
-                    disable_w3c_trace_context=True,
-                )
+            body = kwargs["body"]
+            headers = kwargs["headers"]
+            task_name = kwargs["sender"]
+            task = registry.tasks.get(task_name)
+            task_id = _get_task_id(headers, body)
+
+            span = tracer.start_span("celery-client", span_context=parent_context)
+            span.set_attribute("task", task_name)
+            span.set_attribute("task_id", task_id)
+            add_broker_attributes(span, task.app.conf["broker_url"])
+
+            # Context propagation
+            context_headers = {}
+            tracer.inject(
+                span.context,
+                Format.HTTP_HEADERS,
+                context_headers,
+                disable_w3c_trace_context=True,
+            )
+
+            # Fix for broken header propagation
+            # https://github.com/celery/celery/issues/4875
+            task_headers = kwargs.get("headers") or {}
+            task_headers.setdefault("headers", {})
+            task_headers["headers"].update(context_headers)
+            kwargs["headers"] = task_headers
 
-                # Fix for broken header propagation
-                # https://github.com/celery/celery/issues/4875
-                task_headers = kwargs.get("headers") or {}
-                task_headers.setdefault("headers", {})
-                task_headers["headers"].update(context_headers)
-                kwargs["headers"] = task_headers
-
-                ctx = trace.set_span_in_context(span)
-                token = context.attach(ctx)
-                client_token["token"] = token
-                client_span.set(span)
+            ctx = trace.set_span_in_context(span)
+            token = context.attach(ctx)
+            client_token["token"] = token
+            client_span.set(span)
         except Exception:
             logger.debug("celery-client before_task_publish: ", exc_info=True)
 
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/couchbase.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/couchbase.py
index d9678230..3edd5819 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/couchbase.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/couchbase.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     import wrapt
 
     from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     # List of operations to instrument
     # incr, incr_multi, decr, decr_multi, retrieve_in are wrappers around operations above
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@ def wrapper(
             kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
         ) -> object:
             tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-            parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
-
             # If we're not tracing, just return
-            if tracing_is_off():
+            if not tracer:
                 return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
+            parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
+
             with tracer.start_as_current_span(
                 "couchbase", span_context=parent_context
             ) as span:
@@ -120,12 +120,12 @@ def query_with_instana(
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
         tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
-
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
+        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
+
         with tracer.start_as_current_span(
             "couchbase", span_context=parent_context
         ) as span:
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/pubsub.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/pubsub.py
index d2275c83..be2af051 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/pubsub.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/pubsub.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.propagators.format import Format
 from instana.singletons import get_tracer
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ def publish_with_instana(
         """References:
         - PublisherClient.publish(topic_path, messages, metadata)
         """
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # return early if we're not tracing
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span(
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/storage.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/storage.py
index a1ccb6d9..8e921146 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/storage.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/google/cloud/storage.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Tuple, Union
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.collectors import _storage_api
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 try:
     from google.cloud import storage
@@ -60,12 +60,13 @@ def execute_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+
         # batch requests are traced with finish_batch_with_instana()
         # also return early if we're not tracing
-        if isinstance(instance, storage.Batch) or tracing_is_off():
+        if isinstance(instance, storage.Batch) or not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("gcs", span_context=parent_context) as span:
@@ -91,11 +92,11 @@ def download_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # return early if we're not tracing
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("gcs", span_context=parent_context) as span:
@@ -127,11 +128,11 @@ def upload_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # return early if we're not tracing
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("gcs", span_context=parent_context) as span:
@@ -152,11 +153,11 @@ def finish_batch_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # return early if we're not tracing
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("gcs", span_context=parent_context) as span:
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/httpx.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/httpx.py
index 3c25b814..854ac376 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/httpx.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/httpx.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     from instana.util.traceutils import (
         extract_custom_headers,
         get_tracer_tuple,
-        tracing_is_off,
     )
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -72,11 +71,11 @@ def handle_request_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[int, str, Tuple[Any, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> httpx.Response:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span(
@@ -101,11 +100,11 @@ async def handle_async_request_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[int, str, Tuple[Any, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> httpx.Response:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return await wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         with tracer.start_as_current_span(
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/confluent_kafka_python.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/confluent_kafka_python.py
index f2f327f1..e37d0bb6 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/confluent_kafka_python.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/confluent_kafka_python.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     from instana.propagators.format import Format
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
     from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     consumer_token = None
     consumer_span = contextvars.ContextVar("confluent_kafka_consumer_span")
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ def trace_kafka_produce(
         args: Tuple[int, str, Tuple[Any, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         # Get the topic from either args or kwargs
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/kafka_python.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/kafka_python.py
index 307b7d52..25b05e13 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/kafka_python.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/kafka/kafka_python.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     from instana.propagators.format import Format
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
     from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
         from kafka.producer.future import FutureRecordMetadata
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ def trace_kafka_send(
         args: Tuple[int, str, Tuple[Any, ...]],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> "FutureRecordMetadata":
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         # Get the topic from either args or kwargs
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/logging.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/logging.py
index fdbaaa58..204de0a6 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/logging.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/logging.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.singletons import agent
 from instana.util.runtime import get_runtime_env_info
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 
 @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper("logging", "Logger._log")
@@ -34,16 +34,15 @@ def log_with_instana(
     stacklevel = stacklevel_in + 1
 
     try:
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         # Only needed if we're tracing and serious log and logging spans are not disabled
         if (
-            tracing_is_off()
+            not tracer
             or argv[0] < logging.WARN
             or agent.options.is_span_disabled(category="logging")
         ):
             return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs, stacklevel=stacklevel)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
-
         msg = str(argv[1])
         args = argv[2]
         if args and len(args) == 1 and isinstance(args[0], Mapping) and args[0]:
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/pep0249.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/pep0249.py
index 1108433b..3923ef9e 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/pep0249.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/pep0249.py
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@
 from typing_extensions import Self
 
 from opentelemetry.semconv.trace import SpanAttributes
-from opentelemetry.trace import SpanKind
 
 from instana.log import logger
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 from instana.util.sql import sql_sanitizer
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ def execute(
         tracer, parent_span, operation_name = get_tracer_tuple()
 
         # If not tracing or we're being called from sqlalchemy, just pass through
-        if tracing_is_off() or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
+        if not tracer or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
             return self.__wrapped__.execute(sql, params)
 
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ def executemany(
         tracer, parent_span, operation_name = get_tracer_tuple()
 
         # If not tracing or we're being called from sqlalchemy, just pass through
-        if tracing_is_off() or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
+        if not tracer or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
             return self.__wrapped__.executemany(sql, seq_of_parameters)
 
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ def callproc(
         tracer, parent_span, operation_name = get_tracer_tuple()
 
         # If not tracing or we're being called from sqlalchemy, just pass through
-        if tracing_is_off() or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
+        if not tracer or (operation_name == "sqlalchemy"):
             return self.__wrapped__.execute(proc_name, params)
 
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/pika.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/pika.py
index 5fe0736f..0deb96b8 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/pika.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/pika.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     from instana.log import logger
     from instana.propagators.format import Format
     from instana.singletons import get_tracer
-    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
         import pika.adapters.blocking_connection
@@ -73,11 +73,12 @@ def _bind_args(
         ) -> Tuple[object, ...]:
             return (exchange, routing_key, body, properties, args, kwargs)
 
+        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off():
+        if not tracer:
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
         parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         (exchange, routing_key, body, properties, args, kwargs) = _bind_args(
@@ -125,6 +126,11 @@ def basic_get_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer = get_tracer()
+
+        if not tracer:
+            return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
+
         def _bind_args(*args: object, **kwargs: object) -> Tuple[object, ...]:
             args = list(args)
             queue = kwargs.pop("queue", None) or args.pop(0)
@@ -175,6 +181,11 @@ def basic_consume_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer = get_tracer()
+
+        if not tracer:
+            return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
+
         def _bind_args(
             queue: str,
             on_message_callback: object,
@@ -225,6 +236,11 @@ def consume_with_instana(
         args: Tuple[object, ...],
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
+        tracer = get_tracer()
+
+        if not tracer:
+            return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
+
         def _bind_args(
             queue: str, *args: object, **kwargs: object
         ) -> Tuple[object, ...]:
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/pymongo.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/pymongo.py
index 2c0bc203..23cbf4f7 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/pymongo.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/pymongo.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
 from instana.log import logger
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 try:
     import pymongo
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         def started(self, event: pymongo.monitoring.CommandStartedEvent) -> None:
             tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
             # return early if we're not tracing
-            if tracing_is_off():
+            if not tracer:
                 return
             parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/redis.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/redis.py
index 621bca26..b4962581 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/redis.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/redis.py
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@
 # (c) Copyright Instana Inc. 2018
 
 
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Tuple
-import wrapt
-
-from instana.log import logger
-from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
-
 try:
+    from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Tuple
+
     import redis
+    import wrapt
+
+    from instana.log import logger
+    from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
+    from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
     EXCLUDED_PARENT_SPANS = ["redis", "celery-client", "celery-worker"]
 
@@ -44,12 +44,13 @@ def execute_command_with_instana(
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
         tracer, parent_span, operation_name = get_tracer_tuple()
-        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off() or (operation_name in EXCLUDED_PARENT_SPANS):
+        if not tracer or (operation_name in EXCLUDED_PARENT_SPANS):
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
+        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
+
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("redis", span_context=parent_context) as span:
             try:
                 collect_attributes(span, instance, args, kwargs)
@@ -70,12 +71,13 @@ def execute_with_instana(
         kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> object:
         tracer, parent_span, operation_name = get_tracer_tuple()
-        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
         # If we're not tracing, just return
-        if tracing_is_off() or (operation_name in EXCLUDED_PARENT_SPANS):
+        if not tracer or (operation_name in EXCLUDED_PARENT_SPANS):
             return wrapped(*args, **kwargs)
 
+        parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
+
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("redis", span_context=parent_context) as span:
             try:
                 collect_attributes(span, instance, args, kwargs)
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/sqlalchemy.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/sqlalchemy.py
index 3f44b526..8ccda7ef 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/sqlalchemy.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/sqlalchemy.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan, get_current_span
 from instana.span_context import SpanContext
-from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple, tracing_is_off
+from instana.util.traceutils import get_tracer_tuple
 
 try:
     from sqlalchemy import __version__ as sqlalchemy_version
@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ def receive_before_cursor_execute(
         **kw: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
         try:
+            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
+
             # If we're not tracing, just return
-            if tracing_is_off():
+            if not tracer:
                 return
 
-            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
             parent_context = parent_span.get_span_context() if parent_span else None
 
             span = tracer.start_span("sqlalchemy", span_context=parent_context)
@@ -54,8 +55,9 @@ def receive_after_cursor_execute(
         **kw: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
         try:
+            tracer = get_tracer_tuple()
             # If we're not tracing, just return
-            if tracing_is_off():
+            if not tracer:
                 return
 
             current_span = get_current_span()
@@ -96,10 +98,10 @@ def receive_handle_db_error(
         **kw: Dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
         try:
-            if tracing_is_off():
-                return
+            tracer, parent_span, _ = get_tracer_tuple()
 
-            current_span = get_current_span()
+            if not tracer:
+                return
 
             # support older db error event
             if error_event == "dbapi_error":
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@ def receive_handle_db_error(
                 exception_string = "sqlalchemy_exception"
 
             if context:
-                _set_error_attributes(context, exception_string, current_span)
+                _set_error_attributes(context, exception_string, parent_span)
         except Exception:
             logger.debug(
                 "Instrumenting sqlalchemy @ receive_handle_db_error",
diff --git a/src/instana/instrumentation/urllib3.py b/src/instana/instrumentation/urllib3.py
index 52d3e9c8..b102714f 100644
--- a/src/instana/instrumentation/urllib3.py
+++ b/src/instana/instrumentation/urllib3.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 from instana.util.secrets import strip_secrets_from_query
 from instana.util.traceutils import (
     get_tracer_tuple,
-    tracing_is_off,
     extract_custom_headers,
 )
 
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@ def urlopen_with_instana(
         host = getattr(instance, "host", "") or ""
 
         if (
-            tracing_is_off()
+            not tracer
             or span_name == "boto3"
             or "com.instana" in request_url_or_path
             or "com.instana" in host
diff --git a/src/instana/util/traceutils.py b/src/instana/util/traceutils.py
index 6ea17bff..cb75b301 100644
--- a/src/instana/util/traceutils.py
+++ b/src/instana/util/traceutils.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 from instana.log import logger
 from instana.singletons import agent, get_tracer
 from instana.span.span import get_current_span
+from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from instana.span.span import InstanaSpan
     from instana.tracer import InstanaTracer
 
 
@@ -62,22 +62,6 @@ def extract_custom_headers(
         logger.debug("extract_custom_headers: ", exc_info=True)
 
 
-def get_active_tracer() -> Optional["InstanaTracer"]:
-    """Get the currently active tracer if one exists."""
-    try:
-        current_span = get_current_span()
-        if current_span:
-            # asyncio Spans are used as NonRecording Spans solely for context propagation
-            if current_span.is_recording() or current_span.name == "asyncio":
-                return get_tracer()
-            return None
-        return None
-    except Exception:
-        # Do not try to log this with instana, as there is no active tracer and there will be an infinite loop at least
-        # for PY2
-        return None
-
-
 def get_tracer_tuple() -> (
     Tuple[
         Optional["InstanaTracer"],
@@ -86,15 +70,17 @@ def get_tracer_tuple() -> (
     ]
 ):
     """Get a tuple of (tracer, span, span_name) for the current context."""
-    active_tracer = get_active_tracer()
-    current_span = get_current_span()
-    if active_tracer:
-        return (active_tracer, current_span, current_span.name)
-    elif agent.options.allow_exit_as_root:
-        return (get_tracer(), None, None)
-    return (None, None, None)
-
-
-def tracing_is_off() -> bool:
-    """Check if tracing is currently disabled."""
-    return not (bool(get_active_tracer()) or agent.options.allow_exit_as_root)
+    try:
+        active_tracer = get_tracer()
+        current_span = get_current_span()
+        # asyncio Spans are used as NonRecording Spans solely for context propagation
+        if current_span and isinstance(current_span, InstanaSpan):
+            if current_span.is_recording() or current_span.name == "asyncio":
+                return (active_tracer, current_span, current_span.name)
+        elif agent.options.allow_exit_as_root:
+            return (active_tracer, None, None)
+        return (None, None, None)
+    except Exception:
+        # Do not try to log this with instana, as there is no active tracer and there will be an infinite loop at least
+        # for PY2
+        return (None, None, None)
diff --git a/tests/clients/test_google-cloud-storage.py b/tests/clients/test_google-cloud-storage.py
index 23af7dc7..ea2f3009 100644
--- a/tests/clients/test_google-cloud-storage.py
+++ b/tests/clients/test_google-cloud-storage.py
@@ -1073,13 +1073,13 @@ def test_execute_with_instana_without_tags(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
                 pass
             assert isinstance(buckets, page_iterator.HTTPIterator)
 
-    def test_execute_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self) -> None:
+    def test_execute_with_instana_is_tracing_off(self) -> None:
         client = self._client(
             credentials=AnonymousCredentials(), project="test-project"
         )
         with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"), patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         ):
             response = client.list_buckets()
             assert isinstance(response.client, storage.Client)
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ def test_execute_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self) -> None:
         reason='Avoiding "Fatal Python error: Segmentation fault"',
     )
     @patch("requests.Session.request")
-    def test_download_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
+    def test_download_with_instana_is_tracing_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
         mock_requests.return_value = self._mock_response(
             content=b"CONTENT", status_code=http_client.OK
         )
@@ -1097,8 +1097,8 @@ def test_download_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None
             credentials=AnonymousCredentials(), project="test-project"
         )
         with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"), patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         ):
             response = (
                 client.bucket("test bucket")
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ def test_download_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None
             assert not response
 
     @patch("requests.Session.request")
-    def test_upload_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
+    def test_upload_with_instana_is_tracing_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
         mock_requests.return_value = self._mock_response(
             json_content={"kind": "storage#object"}, status_code=http_client.OK
         )
@@ -1121,8 +1121,8 @@ def test_upload_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
         )
 
         with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"), patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         ):
             response = (
                 client.bucket("test bucket")
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ def test_upload_with_instana_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
             assert not response
 
     @patch("requests.Session.request")
-    def test_finish_batch_operation_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
+    def test_finish_batch_operation_is_tracing_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> None:
         mock_requests.return_value = self._mock_response(
             _TWO_PART_BATCH_RESPONSE,
             status_code=http_client.OK,
@@ -1145,8 +1145,8 @@ def test_finish_batch_operation_tracing_is_off(self, mock_requests: Mock) -> Non
         bucket = client.bucket("test-bucket")
 
         with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"), patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.google.cloud.storage.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         ):
             with client.batch() as batch_response:
                 for obj in ["obj1", "obj2"]:
diff --git a/tests/clients/test_pika.py b/tests/clients/test_pika.py
index 7abb2991..affd9284 100644
--- a/tests/clients/test_pika.py
+++ b/tests/clients/test_pika.py
@@ -467,8 +467,8 @@ def test_basic_publish_with_headers(self, send_method, _unused) -> None:
     @mock.patch("pika.channel.Channel._send_method")
     def test_basic_publish_tracing_off(self, send_method, _unused, mocker) -> None:
         mocker.patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.pika.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.pika.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         )
 
         self.obj._set_state(self.obj.OPEN)
diff --git a/tests/frameworks/test_aiohttp_client.py b/tests/frameworks/test_aiohttp_client.py
index 39659dcb..349772fb 100644
--- a/tests/frameworks/test_aiohttp_client.py
+++ b/tests/frameworks/test_aiohttp_client.py
@@ -476,8 +476,8 @@ async def test():
 
     def test_client_get_tracing_off(self, mocker) -> None:
         mocker.patch(
-            "instana.instrumentation.aiohttp.client.tracing_is_off",
-            return_value=True,
+            "instana.instrumentation.aiohttp.client.get_tracer_tuple",
+            return_value=(None, None, None),
         )
 
         async def test():
diff --git a/tests/frameworks/test_sanic.py b/tests/frameworks/test_sanic.py
index c938937c..5fe57436 100644
--- a/tests/frameworks/test_sanic.py
+++ b/tests/frameworks/test_sanic.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ def _resource(self) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
         """Setup and Teardown"""
         # setup
         # Clear all spans before a test run
-        self.tracer = get_tracer()
         self.recorder = self.tracer.span_processor
         self.recorder.clear_spans()
 
diff --git a/tests/util/test_traceutils.py b/tests/util/test_traceutils.py
index 462ed1b8..2e666a8a 100644
--- a/tests/util/test_traceutils.py
+++ b/tests/util/test_traceutils.py
@@ -5,12 +5,9 @@
 import pytest
 
 from instana.singletons import agent, get_tracer
-from instana.tracer import InstanaTracer
 from instana.util.traceutils import (
     extract_custom_headers,
-    get_active_tracer,
     get_tracer_tuple,
-    tracing_is_off,
 )
 
 
@@ -66,21 +63,7 @@ def test_extract_custom_headers(self, span, custom_headers, format) -> None:
         assert span.attributes["http.header.X-Capture-This-Too"] == "this too"
         assert span.attributes["http.header.X-Capture-That-Too"] == "that too"
 
-    def test_get_activate_tracer(self, mocker) -> None:
-        assert not get_active_tracer()
-
-        with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"):
-            response = get_active_tracer()
-            assert isinstance(response, InstanaTracer)
-            assert response == self.tracer
-            with mocker.patch(
-                "instana.span.span.InstanaSpan.is_recording", return_value=False
-            ):
-                assert not get_active_tracer()
-
-    def test_get_tracer_tuple(
-        self,
-    ) -> None:
+    def test_get_tracer_tuple(self) -> None:
         response = get_tracer_tuple()
         assert response == (None, None, None)
 
@@ -92,15 +75,3 @@ def test_get_tracer_tuple(
         with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test") as span:
             response = get_tracer_tuple()
             assert response == (self.tracer, span, span.name)
-
-    def test_tracing_is_off(self) -> None:
-        response = tracing_is_off()
-        assert response
-        with self.tracer.start_as_current_span("test"):
-            response = tracing_is_off()
-            assert not response
-
-        agent.options.allow_exit_as_root = True
-        response = tracing_is_off()
-        assert not response
-        agent.options.allow_exit_as_root = False