diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_trace_gallium.c b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_trace_gallium.c
index 7029fabd1cf..419d7e93ac6 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_trace_gallium.c
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_trace_gallium.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ u_trace_pipe_context_init(struct u_trace_context *utctx,
 inline void
 trace_framebuffer_state(struct u_trace *ut, void *cs, const struct pipe_framebuffer_state *pfb)
 {
-   if (likely(!ut->enabled))
+   if (likely(!(ut_trace_instrument || ut_perfetto_enabled)))
       return;
 
    trace_framebuffer(ut, cs, pfb);
diff --git a/src/util/perf/u_trace.c b/src/util/perf/u_trace.c
index bd390b668d0..116ed9edb7f 100644
--- a/src/util/perf/u_trace.c
+++ b/src/util/perf/u_trace.c
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ get_tracefile(void)
          tracefile = stdout;
       }
 
-      ut_trace_instrument = debug_get_option_trace_instrument();
+      ut_trace_instrument = tracefile || debug_get_option_trace_instrument();
 
       firsttime = false;
    }
@@ -595,7 +595,6 @@ u_trace_init(struct u_trace *ut, struct u_trace_context *utctx)
 {
    ut->utctx = utctx;
    list_inithead(&ut->trace_chunks);
-   ut->enabled = u_trace_context_instrumenting(utctx);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/util/perf/u_trace.h b/src/util/perf/u_trace.h
index 53f805e4007..b9bfb1ded21 100644
--- a/src/util/perf/u_trace.h
+++ b/src/util/perf/u_trace.h
@@ -187,8 +187,6 @@ struct u_trace {
    struct u_trace_context *utctx;
 
    struct list_head trace_chunks;  /* list of unflushed trace chunks in fifo order */
-
-   bool enabled;
 };
 
 void u_trace_context_init(struct u_trace_context *utctx,
@@ -293,12 +291,6 @@ u_trace_context_actively_tracing(struct u_trace_context *utctx)
    return !!utctx->out || (ut_perfetto_enabled > 0);
 }
 
-static inline bool
-u_trace_context_instrumenting(struct u_trace_context *utctx)
-{
-   return !!utctx->out || ut_trace_instrument || (ut_perfetto_enabled > 0);
-}
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/perf/u_trace.py b/src/util/perf/u_trace.py
index 3a96b4f0600..d9536fccea5 100644
--- a/src/util/perf/u_trace.py
+++ b/src/util/perf/u_trace.py
@@ -253,10 +253,10 @@ static inline void trace_${trace_name}(
 %    endfor
 ) {
 %    if trace.tp_perfetto is not None:
-   if (!unlikely((ut->enabled || ut_trace_instrument || ut_perfetto_enabled) &&
+   if (!unlikely((ut_trace_instrument || ut_perfetto_enabled) &&
                  ${trace.enabled_expr(trace_toggle_name)}))
 %    else:
-   if (!unlikely((ut->enabled || ut_trace_instrument) &&
+   if (!unlikely(ut_trace_instrument &&
                  ${trace.enabled_expr(trace_toggle_name)}))
 %    endif
       return;