diff --git a/sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/recordable.h b/sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/recordable.h
index f4ac53fe2e..5918b80133 100644
--- a/sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/recordable.h
+++ b/sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/recordable.h
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class Recordable
    * Set the trace flags of the span.
    * @param flags the flags to set
    */
-  virtual void SetTraceFlags(opentelemetry::trace::TraceFlags flags) noexcept = 0;
+  virtual void SetTraceFlags(opentelemetry::trace::TraceFlags /* flags */) noexcept {}
 
   /**
    * Set the spankind of the span.