OpenAI API · sdk · fg-0135

Agents SDK logs 'OPENAI_API_KEY is not set, skipping trace export' when using another model provider

OPENAI_API_KEY is not set, skipping trace export

Verified 2026-10-15 · Confirmed by 0 builders · Trust 50/100

Cause

Tracing is on by default and exports to OpenAI with an OpenAI key, even when the agent runs on a non-OpenAI model through a custom client. Tracing is also unavailable to organizations under Zero Data Retention.

Fix

Disable tracing, or give the exporter its own OpenAI key.

Apply

from agents import set_tracing_disabled, set_tracing_export_api_key
set_tracing_disabled(True)
# or keep tracing: set_tracing_export_api_key(os.environ["OPENAI_TRACING_KEY"])

Affects: openai-agents-python 0.x with non-OpenAI providers or ZDR organizations, checked October 2026

Sources

Have your agent know this before it fails

claude mcp add --transport http footgun https://getfootgun.com/api/mcp