diff --git a/rust/tracing/src/init_tracer.rs b/rust/tracing/src/init_tracer.rs
index a277c9b6806..4ee90359ccb 100644
--- a/rust/tracing/src/init_tracer.rs
+++ b/rust/tracing/src/init_tracer.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use tokio::runtime::Handle;
 use tracing_subscriber::fmt;
+use tracing_subscriber::layer::Identity;
 use tracing_subscriber::Registry;
 use tracing_subscriber::{layer::SubscriberExt, EnvFilter, Layer};
 
@@ -131,6 +132,11 @@ pub fn init_otel_layer(
     service_name: &String,
     otel_endpoint: &String,
 ) -> Box<dyn Layer<Registry> + Send + Sync> {
+    if otel_endpoint.trim().is_empty() {
+        tracing::info!("OpenTelemetry is disabled because its endpoint is empty");
+        return Box::new(Identity::new());
+    }
+
     install_rustls_crypto_provider();
 
     tracing::info!(
@@ -406,3 +412,17 @@ pub fn init_otel_tracing(
     init_tracing(layers);
     init_panic_tracing_hook();
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_otel_endpoint_does_not_initialize_exporters() {
+        let service_name = "test-service".to_string();
+
+        for endpoint in ["", "   ", "\t\n"] {
+            let _layer = init_otel_layer(&service_name, &endpoint.to_string());
+        }
+    }
+}