diff --git a/examples/hotrod/pkg/tracing/init.go b/examples/hotrod/pkg/tracing/init.go
index b21b0b06865..6fc0f209d5e 100644
--- a/examples/hotrod/pkg/tracing/init.go
+++ b/examples/hotrod/pkg/tracing/init.go
@@ -81,10 +81,10 @@ func createOtelExporter(exporterType string) (sdktrace.SpanExporter, error) {
 			jaeger.WithCollectorEndpoint(),
 		)
 	case "otlp":
-		client := otlptracehttp.NewClient(
-			otlptracehttp.WithInsecure(),
+		exporter, err = otlptrace.New(
+			context.Background(),
+			otlptracehttp.NewClient(),
 		)
-		exporter, err = otlptrace.New(context.Background(), client)
 	case "stdout":
 		exporter, err = stdouttrace.New()
 	default: