diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2deec286efe..69219fc474b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
   - This allows spans to be filtered by span origin on creation
 - Honor ignored span origins in `SentryTracer.startChild` ([#3704](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-java/pull/3704))
 - Add `enable-spotlight` and `spotlight-connection-url` to external options and check if spotlight is enabled when deciding whether to inspect an OpenTelemetry span for connecting to splotlight ([#3709](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-java/pull/3709))
+- Trace context on `Contexts.setTrace` has been marked `@NotNull` ([#3721](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-java/pull/3721))
+  - Setting it to `null` would cause an exception.
+  - Transactions are dropped if trace context is missing
 
 ### Behavioural Changes
 
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AnrV2EventProcessorTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AnrV2EventProcessorTest.kt
index 5d487cf3426..d930333f4c2 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AnrV2EventProcessorTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AnrV2EventProcessorTest.kt
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class AnrV2EventProcessorTest {
                 persistScope(
                     CONTEXTS_FILENAME,
                     Contexts().apply {
-                        trace = SpanContext("test")
+                        setTrace(SpanContext("test"))
                         setResponse(Response().apply { bodySize = 1024 })
                         setBrowser(Browser().apply { name = "Google Chrome" })
                     }
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/PerformanceAndroidEventProcessorTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/PerformanceAndroidEventProcessorTest.kt
index b9455d19deb..0d969360225 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/PerformanceAndroidEventProcessorTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/PerformanceAndroidEventProcessorTest.kt
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ class PerformanceAndroidEventProcessorTest {
             AppStartType.UNKNOWN -> "ui.load"
         }
         val txn = SentryTransaction(fixture.tracer)
-        txn.contexts.trace = SpanContext(op, TracesSamplingDecision(false))
+        txn.contexts.setTrace(SpanContext(op, TracesSamplingDecision(false)))
         return txn
     }
 }
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsView.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsView.java
index 3720fa5b93d..b5445784c03 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsView.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsView.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public CombinedContextsView(
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void setTrace(@Nullable SpanContext traceContext) {
+  public void setTrace(@NotNull SpanContext traceContext) {
     getDefaultContexts().setTrace(traceContext);
   }
 
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/MonitorContexts.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/MonitorContexts.java
index 00ccb680fc3..34838c3ea53 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/MonitorContexts.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/MonitorContexts.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public MonitorContexts(final @NotNull MonitorContexts contexts) {
     return toContextType(SpanContext.TYPE, SpanContext.class);
   }
 
-  public void setTrace(final @Nullable SpanContext traceContext) {
+  public void setTrace(final @NotNull SpanContext traceContext) {
     Objects.requireNonNull(traceContext, "traceContext is required");
     this.put(SpanContext.TYPE, traceContext);
   }
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/protocol/Contexts.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/protocol/Contexts.java
index fcfb35eb436..53c97bcb0b0 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/protocol/Contexts.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/protocol/Contexts.java
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public Contexts(final @NotNull Contexts contexts) {
     return toContextType(SpanContext.TYPE, SpanContext.class);
   }
 
-  public void setTrace(final @Nullable SpanContext traceContext) {
+  public void setTrace(final @NotNull SpanContext traceContext) {
     Objects.requireNonNull(traceContext, "traceContext is required");
     this.put(SpanContext.TYPE, traceContext);
   }
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CheckInSerializationTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CheckInSerializationTest.kt
index 2e8c8d71fc8..db113fa009c 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CheckInSerializationTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CheckInSerializationTest.kt
@@ -22,11 +22,13 @@ class CheckInSerializationTest {
 
         fun getSut(type: MonitorScheduleType): CheckIn {
             return CheckIn("some_slug", CheckInStatus.ERROR).apply {
-                contexts.trace = TransactionContext.fromPropagationContext(
-                    PropagationContext().also {
-                        it.traceId = SentryId("f382e3180c714217a81371f8c644aefe")
-                        it.spanId = SpanId("85694b9f567145a6")
-                    }
+                contexts.setTrace(
+                    TransactionContext.fromPropagationContext(
+                        PropagationContext().also {
+                            it.traceId = SentryId("f382e3180c714217a81371f8c644aefe")
+                            it.spanId = SpanId("85694b9f567145a6")
+                        }
+                    )
                 )
                 duration = 12.3
                 environment = "env"
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsViewTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsViewTest.kt
index 624ca2417d8..b70e9506a8f 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsViewTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/CombinedContextsViewTest.kt
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     fun `uses default context CURRENT`() {
         fixture.getSut()
         val combined = CombinedContextsView(fixture.global, fixture.isolation, fixture.current, ScopeType.CURRENT)
-        combined.trace = SpanContext("some")
+        combined.setTrace(SpanContext("some"))
         assertEquals("some", fixture.current.trace?.op)
     }
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     fun `uses default context ISOLATION`() {
         fixture.getSut()
         val combined = CombinedContextsView(fixture.global, fixture.isolation, fixture.current, ScopeType.ISOLATION)
-        combined.trace = SpanContext("some")
+        combined.setTrace(SpanContext("some"))
         assertEquals("some", fixture.isolation.trace?.op)
     }
 
@@ -53,16 +53,16 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     fun `uses default context GLOBAL`() {
         fixture.getSut()
         val combined = CombinedContextsView(fixture.global, fixture.isolation, fixture.current, ScopeType.GLOBAL)
-        combined.trace = SpanContext("some")
+        combined.setTrace(SpanContext("some"))
         assertEquals("some", fixture.global.trace?.op)
     }
 
     @Test
     fun `prefers trace from current context`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
-        fixture.isolation.trace = SpanContext("isolation")
-        fixture.global.trace = SpanContext("global")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
+        fixture.isolation.setTrace(SpanContext("isolation"))
+        fixture.global.setTrace(SpanContext("global"))
 
         assertEquals("current", combined.trace?.op)
     }
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `uses isolation trace if current context does not have it`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.isolation.trace = SpanContext("isolation")
-        fixture.global.trace = SpanContext("global")
+        fixture.isolation.setTrace(SpanContext("isolation"))
+        fixture.global.setTrace(SpanContext("global"))
 
         assertEquals("isolation", combined.trace?.op)
     }
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `uses global trace if current and isolation context do not have it`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.global.trace = SpanContext("global")
+        fixture.global.setTrace(SpanContext("global"))
 
         assertEquals("global", combined.trace?.op)
     }
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `sets trace on default context`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        combined.trace = SpanContext("some")
+        combined.setTrace(SpanContext("some"))
 
         assertNull(fixture.current.trace)
         assertEquals("some", fixture.isolation.trace?.op)
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `size combines contexts`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
         fixture.isolation.setApp(App().also { it.appName = "isolation" })
         fixture.global.setGpu(Gpu().also { it.name = "global" })
 
@@ -424,9 +424,9 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `size considers overrides`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
-        fixture.isolation.trace = SpanContext("isolation")
-        fixture.global.trace = SpanContext("global")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
+        fixture.isolation.setTrace(SpanContext("isolation"))
+        fixture.global.setTrace(SpanContext("global"))
 
         assertEquals(1, combined.size)
     }
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `isNotEmpty if current has value`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
 
         assertFalse(combined.isEmpty)
     }
@@ -470,28 +470,28 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     @Test
     fun `containsKey current`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
         assertTrue(combined.containsKey("trace"))
     }
 
     @Test
     fun `containsKey isolation`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.isolation.trace = SpanContext("isolation")
+        fixture.isolation.setTrace(SpanContext("isolation"))
         assertTrue(combined.containsKey("trace"))
     }
 
     @Test
     fun `containsKey global`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.global.trace = SpanContext("global")
+        fixture.global.setTrace(SpanContext("global"))
         assertTrue(combined.containsKey("trace"))
     }
 
     @Test
     fun `keys combines contexts`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
-        fixture.current.trace = SpanContext("current")
+        fixture.current.setTrace(SpanContext("current"))
         fixture.isolation.setApp(App().also { it.appName = "isolation" })
         fixture.global.setGpu(Gpu().also { it.name = "global" })
 
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewTest {
     fun `entrySet combines contexts`() {
         val combined = fixture.getSut()
         val trace = SpanContext("current")
-        fixture.current.trace = trace
+        fixture.current.setTrace(trace)
         val app = App().also { it.appName = "isolation" }
         fixture.isolation.setApp(app)
         val gpu = Gpu().also { it.name = "global" }
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
index 54f8c9725bc..236912291d0 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class ScopesTest {
 
         val event = SentryEvent(exception)
         val originalSpanContext = SpanContext("op")
-        event.contexts.trace = originalSpanContext
+        event.contexts.setTrace(originalSpanContext)
 
         val hints = HintUtils.createWithTypeCheckHint({})
         sut.captureEvent(event, hints)
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryClientTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryClientTest.kt
index 88a6a1adc6a..881d99bbe58 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryClientTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryClientTest.kt
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ class SentryClientTest {
             environment = "release"
             release = "io.sentry.samples@22.1.1"
             contexts[Contexts.REPLAY_ID] = "64cf554cc8d74c6eafa3e08b7c984f6d"
-            contexts.trace = SpanContext(traceId, SpanId(), "ui.load", null, null)
+            contexts.setTrace(SpanContext(traceId, SpanId(), "ui.load", null, null))
             transaction = "MainActivity"
         }
         val hint = HintUtils.createWithTypeCheckHint(BackfillableHint())
@@ -2496,7 +2496,7 @@ class SentryClientTest {
         val preExistingSpanContext = SpanContext("op.load")
 
         val sentryEvent = SentryEvent()
-        sentryEvent.contexts.trace = preExistingSpanContext
+        sentryEvent.contexts.setTrace(preExistingSpanContext)
         sut.captureEvent(sentryEvent, scope)
 
         verify(fixture.transport).send(
@@ -2568,7 +2568,7 @@ class SentryClientTest {
         val preExistingSpanContext = SpanContext("op.load")
 
         val sentryEvent = SentryEvent()
-        sentryEvent.contexts.trace = preExistingSpanContext
+        sentryEvent.contexts.setTrace(preExistingSpanContext)
         sut.captureEvent(sentryEvent, scope)
 
         verify(fixture.transport).send(
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/CombinedContextsViewSerializationTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/CombinedContextsViewSerializationTest.kt
index 87cb226abc0..cafcbb8884b 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/CombinedContextsViewSerializationTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/CombinedContextsViewSerializationTest.kt
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class CombinedContextsViewSerializationTest {
 
             current.setApp(AppSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
             current.setBrowser(BrowserSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
-            current.trace = SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut()
+            current.setTrace(SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
 
             isolation.setDevice(DeviceSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
             isolation.setOperatingSystem(OperatingSystemSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsSerializationTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsSerializationTest.kt
index ee674790d57..5c9aeb1d375 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsSerializationTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsSerializationTest.kt
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class ContextsSerializationTest {
             setRuntime(SentryRuntimeSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
             setGpu(GpuSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
             setResponse(ResponseSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
-            trace = SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut()
+            setTrace(SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
         }
     }
     private val fixture = Fixture()
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsTest.kt
index c1fb47b1c7f..1d0573741fe 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/ContextsTest.kt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class ContextsTest {
         contexts.setRuntime(SentryRuntime())
         contexts.setGpu(Gpu())
         contexts.setResponse(Response())
-        contexts.trace = SpanContext("op")
+        contexts.setTrace(SpanContext("op"))
 
         val clone = Contexts(contexts)
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class ContextsTest {
     fun `copying contexts will have the same values`() {
         val contexts = Contexts()
         contexts["some-property"] = "some-value"
-        contexts.trace = SpanContext("op")
+        contexts.setTrace(SpanContext("op"))
         contexts.trace!!.description = "desc"
 
         val clone = Contexts(contexts)
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/SentryBaseEventSerializationTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/SentryBaseEventSerializationTest.kt
index 3da517ef56f..94234c0b340 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/SentryBaseEventSerializationTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/protocol/SentryBaseEventSerializationTest.kt
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class SentryBaseEventSerializationTest {
                     setOperatingSystem(OperatingSystemSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
                     setRuntime(SentryRuntimeSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
                     setResponse(ResponseSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
-                    trace = SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut()
+                    setTrace(SpanContextSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut())
                 }
                 sdk = SdkVersionSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut()
                 request = RequestSerializationTest.Fixture().getSut()