diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/Cargo.toml b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/Cargo.toml
index 05d366ebd..5c9c4ec29 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ wasmparser = "0.207.0"
 tokio-stream = { version = "0.1" }
 prost-types = "0.12" # should match version in containerd-shim
 sha256 = { workspace = true }
-tracing = { workspace = true }
+
+# tracing
+tracing = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 
 [target.'cfg(unix)'.dependencies]
 caps = "0.5"
@@ -61,3 +63,4 @@ rand= "0.8"
 
 [features]
 testing = ["dep:containerd-shim-wasm-test-modules", "dep:env_logger", "dep:tempfile", "dep:oci-tar-builder"]
+tracing = ["dep:tracing"]
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/cli.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/cli.rs
index 0fa51eb13..cf2342940 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/cli.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ use std::sync::mpsc::channel;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use containerd_shim::{parse, run, Config};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 use ttrpc::Server;
 
 use crate::sandbox::manager::Shim;
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ macro_rules! revision {
     };
 }
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn shim_main<'a, I>(
     name: &str,
     version: &str,
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/containerd/client.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/containerd/client.rs
index a6d74e5bf..c1a8942c4 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/containerd/client.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/containerd/client.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ use tokio::runtime::Runtime;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::ReceiverStream;
 use tonic::{Code, Request};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use super::lease::LeaseGuard;
 use crate::container::Engine;
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ pub(crate) struct WriteContent {
 // sync wrapper implementation from https://tokio.rs/tokio/topics/bridging
 impl Client {
     // wrapper around connection that will establish a connection and create a client
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn connect(
         address: impl AsRef<Path> + ToString,
         namespace: impl ToString,
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ impl Client {
     }
 
     // wrapper around read that will read the entire content file
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn read_content(&self, digest: impl ToString) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let req = ReadContentRequest {
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ impl Client {
 
     // used in tests to clean up content
     #[allow(dead_code)]
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn delete_content(&self, digest: impl ToString) -> Result<()> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let req = DeleteContentRequest {
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ impl Client {
     }
 
     // wrapper around lease that will create a lease and return a guard that will delete the lease when dropped
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn lease(&self, reference: String) -> Result<LeaseGuard> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let mut lease_labels = HashMap::new();
@@ -146,7 +145,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn save_content(
         &self,
         data: Vec<u8>,
@@ -272,7 +271,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn get_info(&self, content_digest: &str) -> Result<Info> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let req = InfoRequest {
@@ -295,7 +294,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn update_info(&self, info: Info) -> Result<Info> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let req = UpdateRequest {
@@ -321,7 +320,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn get_image(&self, image_name: impl ToString) -> Result<Image> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let name = image_name.to_string();
@@ -343,7 +342,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn extract_image_content_sha(&self, image: &Image) -> Result<String> {
         let digest = image
             .target
@@ -359,7 +358,7 @@ impl Client {
         Ok(digest)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn get_container(&self, container_name: impl ToString) -> Result<Container> {
         self.rt.block_on(async {
             let id = container_name.to_string();
@@ -381,7 +380,7 @@ impl Client {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn get_image_manifest_and_digest(&self, image_name: &str) -> Result<(ImageManifest, String)> {
         let image = self.get_image(image_name)?;
         let image_digest = self.extract_image_content_sha(&image)?;
@@ -392,7 +391,7 @@ impl Client {
     // load module will query the containerd store to find an image that has an OS of type 'wasm'
     // If found it continues to parse the manifest and return the layers that contains the WASM modules
     // and possibly other configuration layers.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn load_modules<T: Engine>(
         &self,
         containerd_id: impl ToString,
@@ -523,7 +522,7 @@ impl Client {
         Ok((layers, platform))
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn read_wasm_layer(
         &self,
         original_config: &oci_spec::image::Descriptor,
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance.rs
index 32498be54..7321ba190 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use super::error::Error;
 use super::sync::WaitableCell;
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ pub trait Instance: 'static {
 
     /// Waits for the instance to finish and retunrs its exit code
     /// This is a blocking call.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn wait(&self) -> (u32, DateTime<Utc>) {
         self.wait_timeout(None).unwrap()
     }
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance_utils.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance_utils.rs
index 633bed6b4..1a5617dd2 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance_utils.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/instance_utils.rs
@@ -5,14 +5,13 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use super::Error;
 
 /// Return the root path for the instance.
 ///
 /// The root path is the path to the directory containing the container's state.
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn get_instance_root<P: AsRef<Path>>(
     root_path: P,
     instance_id: &str,
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ pub fn get_instance_root<P: AsRef<Path>>(
 /// Checks if the container exists.
 ///
 /// The root path is the path to the directory containing the container's state.
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn instance_exists<P: AsRef<Path>>(root_path: P, container_id: &str) -> Result<bool> {
     let instance_root = construct_instance_root(root_path, container_id)?;
     Ok(instance_root.exists())
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ struct Options {
     root: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn determine_rootdir(
     bundle: impl AsRef<Path>,
     namespace: &str,
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ pub fn determine_rootdir(
     Ok(path)
 }
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 fn construct_instance_root<P: AsRef<Path>>(root_path: P, container_id: &str) -> Result<PathBuf> {
     let root_path = root_path.as_ref().canonicalize().with_context(|| {
         format!(
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/cli.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/cli.rs
index 0486cb4d8..706e0b677 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/cli.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ use containerd_shim::util::write_address;
 use containerd_shim::{self as shim, api, ExitSignal};
 use oci_spec::runtime::Spec;
 use shim::Flags;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::sandbox::instance::Instance;
 use crate::sandbox::shim::events::{RemoteEventSender, ToTimestamp};
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ where
 {
     type T = Local<I>;
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn new(_runtime_id: &str, args: &Flags, _config: &mut shim::Config) -> Self {
         Cli {
             engine: Default::default(),
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn start_shim(&mut self, opts: containerd_shim::StartOpts) -> shim::Result<String> {
         let dir = current_dir().map_err(|err| ShimError::Other(err.to_string()))?;
         let spec = Spec::load(dir.join("config.json")).map_err(|err| {
@@ -81,12 +80,12 @@ where
         Ok(address)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level = "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn wait(&mut self) {
         self.exit.wait();
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn create_task_service(&self, publisher: RemotePublisher) -> Self::T {
         let events = RemoteEventSender::new(&self.namespace, publisher);
         let exit = self.exit.clone();
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ where
         )
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn delete_shim(&mut self) -> shim::Result<api::DeleteResponse> {
         Ok(api::DeleteResponse {
             exit_status: 137,
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_data.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_data.rs
index bf02618e1..537fda6b9 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_data.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_data.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock, RwLock};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::sandbox::instance::Nop;
 use crate::sandbox::shim::instance_option::InstanceOption;
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ pub(super) struct InstanceData<T: Instance> {
 }
 
 impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn new_instance(id: impl AsRef<str>, cfg: InstanceConfig<T::Engine>) -> Result<Self> {
         let id = id.as_ref().to_string();
         let instance = InstanceOption::Instance(T::new(id, Some(&cfg))?);
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn new_base(id: impl AsRef<str>, cfg: InstanceConfig<T::Engine>) -> Result<Self> {
         let id = id.as_ref().to_string();
         let instance = InstanceOption::Nop(Nop::new(id, None)?);
@@ -41,17 +40,17 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn pid(&self) -> Option<u32> {
         self.pid.get().copied()
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn config(&self) -> &InstanceConfig<T::Engine> {
         &self.cfg
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn start(&self) -> Result<u32> {
         let mut s = self.state.write().unwrap();
         s.start()?;
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         res
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn kill(&self, signal: u32) -> Result<()> {
         let mut s = self.state.write().unwrap();
         s.kill()?;
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         self.instance.kill(signal)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn delete(&self) -> Result<()> {
         let mut s = self.state.write().unwrap();
         s.delete()?;
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         res
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn wait(&self) -> (u32, DateTime<Utc>) {
         let res = self.instance.wait();
         let mut s = self.state.write().unwrap();
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ impl<T: Instance> InstanceData<T> {
         res
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn wait_timeout(&self, t: impl Into<Option<Duration>>) -> Option<(u32, DateTime<Utc>)> {
         let res = self.instance.wait_timeout(t);
         if res.is_some() {
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_option.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_option.rs
index c5f0ec093..da430fa0e 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_option.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/instance_option.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::sandbox::instance::Nop;
 use crate::sandbox::{Instance, InstanceConfig, Result};
@@ -14,13 +13,13 @@ pub(super) enum InstanceOption<I: Instance> {
 impl<I: Instance> Instance for InstanceOption<I> {
     type Engine = ();
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn new(_id: String, _cfg: Option<&InstanceConfig<Self::Engine>>) -> Result<Self> {
         // this is never called
         unimplemented!();
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn start(&self) -> Result<u32> {
         match self {
             Self::Instance(i) => i.start(),
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ impl<I: Instance> Instance for InstanceOption<I> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn kill(&self, signal: u32) -> Result<()> {
         match self {
             Self::Instance(i) => i.kill(signal),
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ impl<I: Instance> Instance for InstanceOption<I> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn delete(&self) -> Result<()> {
         match self {
             Self::Instance(i) => i.delete(),
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ impl<I: Instance> Instance for InstanceOption<I> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn wait_timeout(&self, t: impl Into<Option<Duration>>) -> Option<(u32, DateTime<Utc>)> {
         match self {
             Self::Instance(i) => i.wait_timeout(t),
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/local.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/local.rs
index 62cd529a8..71905afe1 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/local.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/local.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ use containerd_shim::util::IntoOption;
 use containerd_shim::{DeleteResponse, ExitSignal, TtrpcContext, TtrpcResult};
 use log::debug;
 use oci_spec::runtime::Spec;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::sandbox::instance::{Instance, InstanceConfig};
 use crate::sandbox::shim::events::{EventSender, RemoteEventSender, ToTimestamp};
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ pub struct Local<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender = RemoteEventSender>
 
 impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
     /// Creates a new local task service.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn new(
         engine: T::Engine,
         events: E,
@@ -68,23 +67,23 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub(super) fn get_instance(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Arc<InstanceData<T>>> {
         let instance = self.instances.read().unwrap().get(id).cloned();
         instance.ok_or_else(|| Error::NotFound(id.to_string()))
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn has_instance(&self, id: &str) -> bool {
         self.instances.read().unwrap().contains_key(id)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
         self.instances.read().unwrap().is_empty()
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn instance_config(&self) -> InstanceConfig<T::Engine> {
         InstanceConfig::new(
             self.engine.clone(),
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
     }
 }
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 fn is_cri_container(spec: &Spec) -> bool {
     spec.annotations()
         .as_ref()
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ fn is_cri_container(spec: &Spec) -> bool {
 
 // These are the same functions as in Task, but without the TtrcpContext, which is useful for testing
 impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_create(&self, req: CreateTaskRequest) -> Result<CreateTaskResponse> {
         if !req.checkpoint().is_empty() || !req.parent_checkpoint().is_empty() {
             return Err(ShimError::Unimplemented("checkpoint is not supported".to_string()).into());
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_start(&self, req: StartRequest) -> Result<StartResponse> {
         if req.exec_id().is_empty().not() {
             return Err(ShimError::Unimplemented("exec is not supported".to_string()).into());
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_kill(&self, req: KillRequest) -> Result<Empty> {
         if !req.exec_id().is_empty() {
             return Err(Error::InvalidArgument("exec is not supported".to_string()));
@@ -247,7 +246,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         Ok(Empty::new())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_delete(&self, req: DeleteRequest) -> Result<DeleteResponse> {
         if !req.exec_id().is_empty() {
             return Err(Error::InvalidArgument("exec is not supported".to_string()));
@@ -279,7 +278,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_wait(&self, req: WaitRequest) -> Result<WaitResponse> {
         if !req.exec_id().is_empty() {
             return Err(Error::InvalidArgument("exec is not supported".to_string()));
@@ -296,7 +295,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_state(&self, req: StateRequest) -> Result<StateResponse> {
         if !req.exec_id().is_empty() {
             return Err(Error::InvalidArgument("exec is not supported".to_string()));
@@ -328,7 +327,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn task_stats(&self, req: StatsRequest) -> Result<StatsResponse> {
         let i = self.get_instance(req.id())?;
         let pid = i
@@ -346,7 +345,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Send + Sync, E: EventSender> Local<T, E> {
 
 impl<T: Instance + Sync + Send> SandboxService for Local<T, RemoteEventSender> {
     type Instance = T;
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn new(
         namespace: String,
         containerd_address: String,
@@ -361,37 +360,37 @@ impl<T: Instance + Sync + Send> SandboxService for Local<T, RemoteEventSender> {
 }
 
 impl<T: Instance + Sync + Send, E: EventSender> Task for Local<T, E> {
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn create(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: CreateTaskRequest) -> TtrpcResult<CreateTaskResponse> {
         debug!("create: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_create(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn start(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: StartRequest) -> TtrpcResult<StartResponse> {
         debug!("start: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_start(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn kill(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: KillRequest) -> TtrpcResult<Empty> {
         debug!("kill: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_kill(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn delete(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: DeleteRequest) -> TtrpcResult<DeleteResponse> {
         debug!("delete: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_delete(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn wait(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: WaitRequest) -> TtrpcResult<WaitResponse> {
         debug!("wait: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_wait(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn connect(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: ConnectRequest) -> TtrpcResult<ConnectResponse> {
         debug!("connect: {:?}", req);
         let i = self.get_instance(req.id())?;
@@ -404,13 +403,13 @@ impl<T: Instance + Sync + Send, E: EventSender> Task for Local<T, E> {
         })
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn state(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, req: StateRequest) -> TtrpcResult<StateResponse> {
         debug!("state: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_state(req)?)
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn shutdown(&self, _: &TtrpcContext, _: ShutdownRequest) -> TtrpcResult<Empty> {
         debug!("shutdown");
         if self.is_empty() {
@@ -419,7 +418,7 @@ impl<T: Instance + Sync + Send, E: EventSender> Task for Local<T, E> {
         Ok(Empty::new())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn stats(&self, _ctx: &TtrpcContext, req: StatsRequest) -> TtrpcResult<StatsResponse> {
         debug!("stats: {:?}", req);
         Ok(self.task_stats(req)?)
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/task_state.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/task_state.rs
index bc0608471..03e6bbf9f 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/task_state.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sandbox/shim/task_state.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
-
 use crate::sandbox::Error::FailedPrecondition;
 use crate::sandbox::Result;
 
@@ -13,7 +11,7 @@ pub(super) enum TaskState {
 }
 
 impl TaskState {
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn start(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         *self = match self {
             Self::Created => Ok(Self::Starting),
@@ -22,7 +20,7 @@ impl TaskState {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn kill(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         *self = match self {
             Self::Started => Ok(Self::Started),
@@ -31,7 +29,7 @@ impl TaskState {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn delete(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         *self = match self {
             Self::Created | Self::Exited => Ok(Self::Deleting),
@@ -40,7 +38,7 @@ impl TaskState {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn started(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         *self = match self {
             Self::Starting => Ok(Self::Started),
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ impl TaskState {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     pub fn stop(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         *self = match self {
             Self::Started | Self::Starting => Ok(Self::Exited),
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/executor.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/executor.rs
index 987f71875..036d82f51 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/executor.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/executor.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ use libcontainer::workload::{
 };
 use oci_spec::image::Platform;
 use oci_spec::runtime::Spec;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::container::{Engine, PathResolve, RuntimeContext, Source, Stdio, WasiContext};
 use crate::sandbox::oci::WasmLayer;
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ pub(crate) struct Executor<E: Engine> {
 }
 
 impl<E: Engine> LibcontainerExecutor for Executor<E> {
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn validate(&self, spec: &Spec) -> Result<(), ExecutorValidationError> {
         // We can handle linux container. We delegate wasm container to the engine.
         match self.inner(spec) {
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> LibcontainerExecutor for Executor<E> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn exec(&self, spec: &Spec) -> Result<(), LibcontainerExecutorError> {
         // If it looks like a linux container, run it as a linux container.
         // Otherwise, run it as a wasm container
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/instance.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/instance.rs
index 7cc76444e..12b77f4bb 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/instance.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/container/instance.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ use nix::errno::Errno;
 use nix::sys::wait::{waitid, Id as WaitID, WaitPidFlag, WaitStatus};
 use nix::unistd::Pid;
 use oci_spec::image::Platform;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
 use crate::container::Engine;
 use crate::sandbox::instance_utils::{determine_rootdir, get_instance_root, instance_exists};
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ pub struct Instance<E: Engine> {
 impl<E: Engine> SandboxInstance for Instance<E> {
     type Engine = E;
 
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn new(id: String, cfg: Option<&InstanceConfig<Self::Engine>>) -> Result<Self, SandboxError> {
         let cfg = cfg.context("missing configuration")?;
         let engine = cfg.get_engine();
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> SandboxInstance for Instance<E> {
     /// Start the instance
     /// The returned value should be a unique ID (such as a PID) for the instance.
     /// Nothing internally should be using this ID, but it is returned to containerd where a user may want to use it.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn start(&self) -> Result<u32, SandboxError> {
         log::info!("starting instance: {}", self.id);
         // make sure we have an exit code by the time we finish (even if there's a panic)
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> SandboxInstance for Instance<E> {
     }
 
     /// Send a signal to the instance
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn kill(&self, signal: u32) -> Result<(), SandboxError> {
         log::info!("sending signal {signal} to instance: {}", self.id);
         let signal = Signal::try_from(signal as i32).map_err(|err| {
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> SandboxInstance for Instance<E> {
 
     /// Delete any reference to the instance
     /// This is called after the instance has exited.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn delete(&self) -> Result<(), SandboxError> {
         log::info!("deleting instance: {}", self.id);
         match instance_exists(&self.rootdir, &self.id) {
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> SandboxInstance for Instance<E> {
     /// Waits for the instance to finish and retunrs its exit code
     /// Returns None if the timeout is reached before the instance has finished.
     /// This is a blocking call.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
     fn wait_timeout(&self, t: impl Into<Option<Duration>>) -> Option<(u32, DateTime<Utc>)> {
         self.exit_code.wait_timeout(t).copied()
     }
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/metrics.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/metrics.rs
index 332da0909..08a182042 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/metrics.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/metrics.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use containerd_shim::cgroup::collect_metrics;
 use containerd_shim::util::convert_to_any;
 use protobuf::well_known_types::any::Any;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn get_metrics(pid: u32) -> Result<Any> {
     let metrics = collect_metrics(pid)?;
 
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/networking.rs b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/networking.rs
index 1070618bd..b54f853f7 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/networking.rs
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasm/src/sys/unix/networking.rs
@@ -5,9 +5,8 @@ use containerd_shim::error::Error as ShimError;
 use containerd_shim::{self as shim};
 use nix::sched::{setns, unshare, CloneFlags};
 use oci_spec::runtime;
-use tracing::{instrument, Span};
 
-#[instrument(skip_all, parent = Span::current(), level= "Info")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(parent = tracing::Span::current(), skip_all, level = "Info"))]
 pub fn setup_namespaces(spec: &runtime::Spec) -> Result<()> {
     let namespaces = spec
         .linux()
diff --git a/crates/containerd-shim-wasmtime/Cargo.toml b/crates/containerd-shim-wasmtime/Cargo.toml
index 05a8e7fa1..4742f6f45 100644
--- a/crates/containerd-shim-wasmtime/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/containerd-shim-wasmtime/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ edition.workspace = true
 [dependencies]
 anyhow = { workspace = true }
 containerd-shim = { workspace = true }
-containerd-shim-wasm = { workspace = true }
+containerd-shim-wasm = { workspace = true, features = ["tracing"] }
 log = { workspace = true }
 oci-spec = { workspace = true, features = ["runtime"] }
 ttrpc = { workspace = true }