diff --git a/internal/cri/instrument/instrumented_service.go b/internal/cri/instrument/instrumented_service.go
index 051d53e75..c32513862 100644
--- a/internal/cri/instrument/instrumented_service.go
+++ b/internal/cri/instrument/instrumented_service.go
@@ -27,11 +27,6 @@ import (
 	ctrdutil "github.com/containerd/containerd/v2/internal/cri/util"
 )
 
-const (
-	// criSpanPrefix is a prefix for CRI server specific spans
-	criSpanPrefix = "pkg.cri.server"
-)
-
 // criService is an CRI server dependency to be wrapped with instrumentation.
 type criService interface {
 	GRPCServices
@@ -69,6 +64,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RunPodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Run
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("RunPodSandbox for %+v", r.GetConfig().GetMetadata())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -76,6 +72,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RunPodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Run
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("RunPodSandbox for %+v returns sandbox id %q", r.GetConfig().GetMetadata(), res.GetPodSandboxId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.RunPodSandbox(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -117,6 +114,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StopPodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.St
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("StopPodSandbox for %q", r.GetPodSandboxId())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -124,6 +122,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StopPodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.St
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("StopPodSandbox for %q returns successfully", r.GetPodSandboxId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err := in.c.StopPodSandbox(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -133,6 +132,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemovePodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("RemovePodSandbox for %q", r.GetPodSandboxId())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemovePodSandbox(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("RemovePodSandbox %q returns successfully", r.GetPodSandboxId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err := in.c.RemovePodSandbox(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -165,6 +166,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.C
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("CreateContainer within sandbox %q for container %+v",
 		r.GetPodSandboxId(), r.GetConfig().GetMetadata())
 	defer func() {
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.C
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("CreateContainer within sandbox %q for %+v returns container id %q",
 				r.GetPodSandboxId(), r.GetConfig().GetMetadata(), res.GetContainerId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.CreateContainer(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -184,6 +187,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StartContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.St
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("StartContainer for %q", r.GetContainerId())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -191,6 +195,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StartContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.St
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("StartContainer for %q returns successfully", r.GetContainerId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err := in.c.StartContainer(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -233,6 +238,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StopContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Sto
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("StopContainer for %q with timeout %d (s)", r.GetContainerId(), r.GetTimeout())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -240,6 +246,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) StopContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Sto
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("StopContainer for %q returns successfully", r.GetContainerId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.StopContainer(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -249,6 +256,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.R
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("RemoveContainer for %q", r.GetContainerId())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -256,6 +264,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.R
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("RemoveContainer for %q returns successfully", r.GetContainerId())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.RemoveContainer(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -265,6 +274,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ExecSync(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ExecSync
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Debugf("ExecSync for %q with command %+v and timeout %d (s)", r.GetContainerId(), r.GetCmd(), r.GetTimeout())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -272,6 +282,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ExecSync(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ExecSync
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Tracef("ExecSync for %q returns with exit code %d", r.GetContainerId(), res.GetExitCode())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.ExecSync(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -281,6 +292,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) Exec(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ExecRequest)
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Debugf("Exec for %q with command %+v, tty %v and stdin %v",
 		r.GetContainerId(), r.GetCmd(), r.GetTty(), r.GetStdin())
 	defer func() {
@@ -289,6 +301,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) Exec(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ExecRequest)
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Debugf("Exec for %q returns URL %q", r.GetContainerId(), res.GetUrl())
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.Exec(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -298,6 +311,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) Attach(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.AttachRequ
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Debugf("Attach for %q with tty %v and stdin %v", r.GetContainerId(), r.GetTty(), r.GetStdin())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -305,6 +319,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) Attach(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.AttachRequ
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Debugf("Attach for %q returns URL %q", r.GetContainerId(), res.Url)
 		}
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.Attach(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -330,8 +345,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) PullImage(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.PullIma
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ctx, span := tracing.StartSpan(ctx, tracing.Name(criSpanPrefix, "PullImage"))
-	defer span.End()
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("PullImage %q", r.GetImage().GetImage())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -340,7 +354,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) PullImage(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.PullIma
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("PullImage %q returns image reference %q",
 				r.GetImage().GetImage(), res.GetImageRef())
 		}
-		span.SetStatus(err)
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.PullImage(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -350,8 +364,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ListImages(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ListIm
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ctx, span := tracing.StartSpan(ctx, tracing.Name(criSpanPrefix, "ListImages"))
-	defer span.End()
 	log.G(ctx).Tracef("ListImages with filter %+v", r.GetFilter())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -360,7 +372,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ListImages(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ListIm
 			log.G(ctx).Tracef("ListImages with filter %+v returns image list %+v",
 				r.GetFilter(), res.GetImages())
 		}
-		span.SetStatus(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.ListImages(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -370,8 +381,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ImageStatus(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Image
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ctx, span := tracing.StartSpan(ctx, tracing.Name(criSpanPrefix, "ImageStatus"))
-	defer span.End()
 	log.G(ctx).Tracef("ImageStatus for %q", r.GetImage().GetImage())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -380,7 +389,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ImageStatus(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Image
 			log.G(ctx).Tracef("ImageStatus for %q returns image status %+v",
 				r.GetImage().GetImage(), res.GetImage())
 		}
-		span.SetStatus(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.ImageStatus(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -390,8 +398,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemoveImage(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Remov
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ctx, span := tracing.StartSpan(ctx, tracing.Name(criSpanPrefix, "RemoveImage"))
-	defer span.End()
+	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	log.G(ctx).Infof("RemoveImage %q", r.GetImage().GetImage())
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -399,7 +406,7 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) RemoveImage(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Remov
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Infof("RemoveImage %q returns successfully", r.GetImage().GetImage())
 		}
-		span.SetStatus(err)
+		span.RecordError(err)
 	}()
 	res, err := in.c.RemoveImage(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
@@ -409,8 +416,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ImageFsInfo(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Image
 	if err := in.checkInitialized(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	ctx, span := tracing.StartSpan(ctx, tracing.Name(criSpanPrefix, "ImageFsInfo"))
-	defer span.End()
 	log.G(ctx).Tracef("ImageFsInfo")
 	defer func() {
 		if err != nil {
@@ -418,7 +423,6 @@ func (in *instrumentedService) ImageFsInfo(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.Image
 		} else {
 			log.G(ctx).Tracef("ImageFsInfo returns filesystem info %+v", res.ImageFilesystems)
 		}
-		span.SetStatus(err)
 	}()
 	res, err = in.c.ImageFsInfo(ctrdutil.WithNamespace(ctx), r)
 	return res, errdefs.ToGRPC(err)
diff --git a/internal/cri/server/images/image_status.go b/internal/cri/server/images/image_status.go
index 1bb85549a..4f1ece5b4 100644
--- a/internal/cri/server/images/image_status.go
+++ b/internal/cri/server/images/image_status.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 
 	imagestore "github.com/containerd/containerd/v2/internal/cri/store/image"
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/v2/internal/cri/util"
-	"github.com/containerd/containerd/v2/pkg/tracing"
 	"github.com/containerd/errdefs"
 	"github.com/containerd/log"
 
@@ -37,17 +36,14 @@ import (
 // TODO(random-liu): We should change CRI to distinguish image id and image spec. (See
 // kubernetes/kubernetes#46255)
 func (c *CRIImageService) ImageStatus(ctx context.Context, r *runtime.ImageStatusRequest) (*runtime.ImageStatusResponse, error) {
-	span := tracing.SpanFromContext(ctx)
 	image, err := c.LocalResolve(r.GetImage().GetImage())
 	if err != nil {
 		if errdefs.IsNotFound(err) {
-			span.AddEvent(err.Error())
 			// return empty without error when image not found.
 			return &runtime.ImageStatusResponse{}, nil
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can not resolve %q locally: %w", r.GetImage().GetImage(), err)
 	}
-	span.SetAttributes(tracing.Attribute("image.id", image.ID))
 	// TODO(random-liu): [P0] Make sure corresponding snapshot exists. What if snapshot
 	// doesn't exist?
 
diff --git a/pkg/tracing/tracing.go b/pkg/tracing/tracing.go
index ce8a9d6ba..48d760feb 100644
--- a/pkg/tracing/tracing.go
+++ b/pkg/tracing/tracing.go
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ func (s *Span) AddEvent(name string, attributes ...attribute.KeyValue) {
 	s.otelSpan.AddEvent(name, trace.WithAttributes(attributes...))
 }
 
+// RecordError will record err as an exception span event for this span
+func (s *Span) RecordError(err error, options ...trace.EventOption) {
+	s.otelSpan.RecordError(err, options...)
+}
+
 // SetStatus sets the status of the current span.
 // If an error is encountered, it records the error and sets span status to Error.
 func (s *Span) SetStatus(err error) {