diff --git a/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml b/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
index 239b2695..06dfebc4 100644
--- a/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
+++ b/src/client/opentelemetry_client_ocurl.ml
@@ -399,22 +399,24 @@ let mk_emitter ~(config:Config.t) () : (module EMITTER) =
     if force || (not force && E_metrics.is_big_enough ()) then (
       let batch = ref [AList.pop_all gc_metrics] in
       E_metrics.pop_iter_all (fun l -> batch := l :: !batch);
-      if not (batch_is_empty !batch) then (
+      let do_something = not (l_is_empty !batch) in
+      if do_something then (
         send_metrics_http !batch;
       );
       Atomic.set last_wakeup (Mtime_clock.now());
-      true
+      do_something
     ) else false
   in
   let emit_traces ?(force=false) () : bool =
     if force || (not force && E_trace.is_big_enough ()) then (
       let batch = ref [] in
       E_trace.pop_iter_all (fun l -> batch := l :: !batch);
-      if not (l_is_empty !batch) then (
+      let do_something = not (l_is_empty !batch) in
+      if do_something then (
         send_traces_http !batch;
       );
       Atomic.set last_wakeup (Mtime_clock.now());
-      true
+      do_something
     ) else false
   in