diff --git a/src/nxt_otel.c b/src/nxt_otel.c
index eea12e24f..6fe3c9358 100644
--- a/src/nxt_otel.c
+++ b/src/nxt_otel.c
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ nxt_otel_test_and_call_state(nxt_task_t *task, nxt_http_request_t *r)
 void
 nxt_otel_request_error_path(nxt_task_t *task, nxt_http_request_t *r)
 {
-    if (r->otel->trace == NULL) {
+    if (r->otel == NULL || r->otel->trace == NULL) {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -345,6 +345,11 @@ nxt_otel_parse_traceparent(void *ctx, nxt_http_field_t *field, uintptr_t data)
 
     r = ctx;
 
+    // opentelemetry unconfigured
+    if (r->otel == NULL) {
+        return NXT_OK;
+    }
+
     if (field->value_length != NXT_OTEL_TRACEPARENT_LEN) {
         goto error_state;
     }
@@ -391,6 +396,10 @@ nxt_otel_parse_tracestate(void *ctx, nxt_http_field_t *field, uintptr_t data)
     s.start = field->value;
 
     r = ctx;
+    if (r->otel == NULL) {
+        return NXT_OK;
+    }
+
     r->otel->trace_state = s;
 
     /*