diff --git a/opentelemetry-sdk/tests/trace/test_trace.py b/opentelemetry-sdk/tests/trace/test_trace.py
index d4ee490f39..2c6fdf3f92 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-sdk/tests/trace/test_trace.py
+++ b/opentelemetry-sdk/tests/trace/test_trace.py
@@ -2231,6 +2231,7 @@ def test_parent_child_span_exception(self):
         exception_type = exception.__class__.__name__
         exception_message = exception.args[0]
 
+        child_span = None
         try:
             with tracer.start_as_current_span(
                 "parent",
@@ -2245,6 +2246,8 @@ def test_parent_child_span_exception(self):
         except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-caught
             pass
 
+        self.assertIsNotNone(child_span)
+
         self.assertTrue(child_span.status.is_ok)
         self.assertIsNone(child_span.status.description)
         self.assertTupleEqual(child_span.events, ())
@@ -2275,6 +2278,7 @@ def test_child_parent_span_exception(self):
 
         exception = Exception("exception")
 
+        child_span = None
         try:
             with tracer.start_as_current_span(
                 "parent",
@@ -2290,6 +2294,8 @@ def test_child_parent_span_exception(self):
         except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-caught
             pass
 
+        self.assertIsNotNone(child_span)
+
         self.assertTrue(child_span.status.is_ok)
         self.assertIsNone(child_span.status.description)
         self.assertTupleEqual(child_span.events, ())