diff --git a/tracing/src/main/java/com/palantir/tracing/Tracer.java b/tracing/src/main/java/com/palantir/tracing/Tracer.java
index 77ead25bb..e66f85b01 100644
--- a/tracing/src/main/java/com/palantir/tracing/Tracer.java
+++ b/tracing/src/main/java/com/palantir/tracing/Tracer.java
@@ -67,10 +67,19 @@ private Tracer() {}
      */
     private static Trace createTrace(Optional<Boolean> isObservable, String traceId) {
         Preconditions.checkArgument(traceId != null && !traceId.isEmpty(), "traceId must be non-empty: %s", traceId);
-        boolean observable = isObservable.orElseGet(sampler::sample);
+        boolean observable = shouldObserve(isObservable);
         return new Trace(observable, traceId);
     }
 
+    // Avoid lambda allocation on hot paths
+    @SuppressWarnings("OptionalIsPresent")
+    private static boolean shouldObserve(Optional<Boolean> isObservable) {
+        if (isObservable.isPresent()) {
+            return Boolean.TRUE.equals(isObservable.get());
+        }
+        return sampler.sample();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Initializes the current thread's trace, erasing any previously accrued open spans. The new trace is {@link
      * Trace#isObservable observable} iff the given flag is true, or, iff {@code isObservable} is absent, if the {@link