diff --git a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/InboundLedger.cpp b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/InboundLedger.cpp
index 2b47f92244..de2c3d6c27 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/InboundLedger.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/InboundLedger.cpp
@@ -459,8 +459,7 @@ InboundLedger::done()
     // activation pops at the end of this block (restoring the prior context)
     // while acquireSpan_ is still alive, then reset() ends the span.
     {
-        auto acquireActivation = (acquireSpan_ && *acquireSpan_) ? acquireSpan_->activate()
-                                                                 : telemetry::ScopedActivation{};
+        auto acquireActivation = telemetry::activateIfLive(acquireSpan_);
         if (acquireSpan_ && *acquireSpan_)
         {
             using namespace telemetry;