diff --git a/lighthouse-core/config/config.js b/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
index 41159dd46025..a25c51bedd1b 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
@@ -482,6 +482,7 @@ class Config {
    * @return {!Object} fresh passes object
    */
   static generatePassesNeededByGatherers(oldPasses, requiredGatherers) {
+    const auditsNeedTrace = requiredGatherers.has('traces');
     const passes = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(oldPasses));
     const filteredPasses = passes.map(pass => {
       // remove any unncessary gatherers from within the passes
@@ -489,6 +490,14 @@ class Config {
         gathererName = GatherRunner.getGathererClass(gathererName).name;
         return requiredGatherers.has(gathererName);
       });
+
+      // disable the trace if no audit requires a trace
+      if (pass.recordTrace && !auditsNeedTrace) {
+        const passName = pass.passName || 'unknown pass';
+        log.warn('config', `Trace not requested by an audit, dropping trace in ${passName}`);
+        pass.recordTrace = false;
+      }
+
       return pass;
     }).filter(pass => {
       // remove any passes lacking concrete gatherers, unless they are dependent on the trace
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
index 6c5e6571d123..2a93d5dc82b8 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
@@ -330,12 +330,31 @@ describe('Config', () => {
 
     assert.ok(config.audits.length, 3);
     assert.equal(config.passes.length, 2);
+    assert.ok(config.passes[0].recordTrace, 'preserves recordTrace pass');
     assert.ok(!config.categories['unused-category'], 'removes unused categories');
     assert.equal(config.categories['needed-category'].audits.length, 2);
     assert.equal(config.categories['other-category'].audits.length, 1);
   });
 
-  it('filtering works with extension', () => {
+  it('filtering filters out traces when not needed', () => {
+    const warnings = [];
+    const saveWarning = evt => warnings.push(evt);
+    log.events.addListener('warning', saveWarning);
+    const config = new Config({
+      extends: true,
+      settings: {
+        onlyCategories: ['accessibility'],
+      },
+    });
+
+    log.events.removeListener('warning', saveWarning);
+    assert.ok(config.audits.length, 'inherited audits by extension');
+    assert.equal(config.passes.length, 1, 'filtered out passes');
+    assert.equal(warnings.length, 1, 'warned about dropping trace');
+    assert.equal(config.passes[0].recordTrace, false, 'turns off tracing if not needed');
+  });
+
+  it('filters works with extension', () => {
     const config = new Config({
       extends: true,
       settings: {