diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentelemetry/opentelemetry-0.3/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentelemetry/OtelScope.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentelemetry/opentelemetry-0.3/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentelemetry/OtelScope.java
index 6a387df6f67..ed1ca770fb9 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentelemetry/opentelemetry-0.3/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentelemetry/OtelScope.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentelemetry/opentelemetry-0.3/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentelemetry/OtelScope.java
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@ public class OtelScope implements Scope, TraceScope {
     this.delegate = delegate;
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public Continuation capture() {
-    return delegate.capture();
-  }
-
   @Override
   public void close() {
     delegate.close();
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.31/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing31/OTScopeManager.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.31/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing31/OTScopeManager.java
index d9f6179b5d3..6004bb28b9e 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.31/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing31/OTScopeManager.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.31/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing31/OTScopeManager.java
@@ -63,11 +63,6 @@ public Span span() {
       return converter.toSpan(delegate.span());
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public Continuation capture() {
-      return delegate.capture();
-    }
-
     public boolean isFinishSpanOnClose() {
       return finishSpanOnClose;
     }
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.32/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing32/OTScopeManager.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.32/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing32/OTScopeManager.java
index aa4c0f1b131..b32581b711e 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.32/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing32/OTScopeManager.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/opentracing/api-0.32/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/opentracing32/OTScopeManager.java
@@ -73,11 +73,6 @@ public Span span() {
       return converter.toSpan(delegate.span());
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public Continuation capture() {
-      return delegate.capture();
-    }
-
     public boolean isFinishSpanOnClose() {
       return finishSpanOnClose;
     }
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws1/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws1/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
index 12f8c4f13da..f2069730d4a 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws1/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws1/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws1;
 
-import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.capture;
+import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.captureSpan;
 import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.setAsyncPropagationEnabled;
 import static datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws.PlayWSClientDecorator.DECORATE;
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public class AsyncHandlerWrapper implements AsyncHandler {
   public AsyncHandlerWrapper(final AsyncHandler delegate, final AgentSpan span) {
     this.delegate = delegate;
     this.span = span;
-    continuation = capture();
+    continuation = captureSpan(span);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2.1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws21/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2.1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws21/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
index 30983b389f9..a2cc9ca949c 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2.1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws21/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2.1/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws21/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws21;
 
-import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.capture;
+import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.captureSpan;
 import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.setAsyncPropagationEnabled;
 import static datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws.PlayWSClientDecorator.DECORATE;
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public class AsyncHandlerWrapper implements AsyncHandler {
   public AsyncHandlerWrapper(final AsyncHandler delegate, final AgentSpan span) {
     this.delegate = delegate;
     this.span = span;
-    continuation = capture();
+    continuation = captureSpan(span);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws2/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws2/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
index 24ccad31361..1aef9e3b264 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws2/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/play-ws-2/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/playws2/AsyncHandlerWrapper.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws2;
 
-import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.capture;
+import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.captureSpan;
 import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.setAsyncPropagationEnabled;
 import static datadog.trace.instrumentation.playws.PlayWSClientDecorator.DECORATE;
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public class AsyncHandlerWrapper implements AsyncHandler {
   public AsyncHandlerWrapper(final AsyncHandler delegate, final AgentSpan span) {
     this.delegate = delegate;
     this.span = span;
-    continuation = capture();
+    continuation = captureSpan(span);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/servicetalk/src/test/groovy/ContextPreservingInstrumentationTest.groovy b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/servicetalk/src/test/groovy/ContextPreservingInstrumentationTest.groovy
index 0c0f31c65af..a7ee492dc2a 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/servicetalk/src/test/groovy/ContextPreservingInstrumentationTest.groovy
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/servicetalk/src/test/groovy/ContextPreservingInstrumentationTest.groovy
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class ContextPreservingInstrumentationTest extends AgentTestRunner {
    */
   private class ParentContext {
     final ContextMap contextMap = AsyncContext.context().copy()
-    final AgentScope.Continuation spanContinuation = AgentTracer.capture()
+    final AgentScope.Continuation spanContinuation = AgentTracer.captureActiveSpan()
 
     def releaseParentSpan() {
       spanContinuation.cancel()
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/zio/zio-2.0/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/zio/v2_0/FiberContext.java b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/zio/zio-2.0/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/zio/v2_0/FiberContext.java
index f467ac7974d..07a6302b218 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/zio/zio-2.0/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/zio/v2_0/FiberContext.java
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/zio/zio-2.0/src/main/java/datadog/trace/instrumentation/zio/v2_0/FiberContext.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package datadog.trace.instrumentation.zio.v2_0;
 
-import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.capture;
+import static datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer.captureActiveSpan;
 
 import datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentScope;
 import datadog.trace.bootstrap.instrumentation.api.AgentTracer;
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ private FiberContext(ScopeState state) {
     this.state = state;
     this.scope = null;
     this.oldState = null;
-    this.continuation = capture();
+    this.continuation = captureActiveSpan();
   }
 
   public static FiberContext create() {
diff --git a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/GlobalTracer.java b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/GlobalTracer.java
index e308983818b..7fae3855476 100644
--- a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/GlobalTracer.java
+++ b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/GlobalTracer.java
@@ -26,22 +26,27 @@ public String getSpanId() {
         }
 
         @Override
-        public boolean isAsyncPropagationEnabled() {
+        public boolean addTraceInterceptor(TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor) {
           return false;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public void setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean asyncPropagationEnabled) {}
+        public TraceScope muteTracing() {
+          return NoopTraceScope.INSTANCE;
+        }
 
         @Override
-        public boolean addTraceInterceptor(TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor) {
-          return false;
+        public TraceScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan() {
+          return NoopTraceScope.NoopContinuation.INSTANCE;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public TraceScope muteTracing() {
-          return NoopTraceScope.INSTANCE;
+        public boolean isAsyncPropagationEnabled() {
+          return false;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public void setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean asyncPropagationEnabled) {}
       };
 
   private static final Collection<Callback> installationCallbacks = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/Tracer.java b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/Tracer.java
index f96a65b0caa..84709a4b508 100644
--- a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/Tracer.java
+++ b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/api/Tracer.java
@@ -14,6 +14,31 @@ public interface Tracer {
    */
   String getSpanId();
 
+  /**
+   * Add a new interceptor to the tracer. Interceptors with duplicate priority to existing ones are
+   * ignored.
+   *
+   * @param traceInterceptor
+   * @return false if an interceptor with same priority exists.
+   */
+  boolean addTraceInterceptor(TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor);
+
+  TraceScope muteTracing();
+
+  /**
+   * When asynchronous propagation is enabled, prevent the currently active trace from reporting
+   * until the returned Continuation is either activated (and the returned scope is closed) or the
+   * continuation is canceled.
+   *
+   * <p>Should be called on the parent thread.
+   *
+   * @deprecated Unstable API. Might be removed at any time.
+   * @return Continuation of the active span, no-op continuation if there's no active span or
+   *     asynchronous propagation is disabled.
+   */
+  @Deprecated
+  TraceScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan();
+
   /**
    * Checks whether asynchronous propagation is enabled, meaning this context will propagate across
    * asynchronous boundaries.
@@ -36,15 +61,4 @@ public interface Tracer {
    */
   @Deprecated
   void setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean asyncPropagationEnabled);
-
-  /**
-   * Add a new interceptor to the tracer. Interceptors with duplicate priority to existing ones are
-   * ignored.
-   *
-   * @param traceInterceptor
-   * @return false if an interceptor with same priority exists.
-   */
-  boolean addTraceInterceptor(TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor);
-
-  TraceScope muteTracing();
 }
diff --git a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/NoopTraceScope.java b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/NoopTraceScope.java
index 34d5cffbe19..851290e32a3 100644
--- a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/NoopTraceScope.java
+++ b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/NoopTraceScope.java
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ public void cancel() {}
 
   private NoopTraceScope() {}
 
-  @Override
-  public Continuation capture() {
-    return NoopContinuation.INSTANCE;
-  }
-
   @Override
   public void close() {}
 }
diff --git a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/TraceScope.java b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/TraceScope.java
index 3f912927568..48268d8fcb8 100644
--- a/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/TraceScope.java
+++ b/dd-trace-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/context/TraceScope.java
@@ -6,47 +6,11 @@
 
 /** An object which can propagate a datadog trace across multiple threads. */
 public interface TraceScope extends Closeable {
-  /**
-   * Prevent the trace attached to this TraceScope from reporting until the returned Continuation is
-   * either activated (and the returned scope is closed), or canceled.
-   *
-   * <p>Should be called on the parent thread.
-   */
-  Continuation capture();
-
-  /** @deprecated Replaced by {@code capture().hold()}. */
-  @Deprecated
-  default Continuation captureConcurrent() {
-    return capture().hold();
-  }
 
   /** Close the activated context and allow any underlying spans to finish. */
   @Override
   void close();
 
-  /**
-   * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Tracer#isAsyncPropagationEnabled()}.
-   *     <p>Calling this method will check whether asynchronous propagation is active <strong>for
-   *     the active scope</strong>, not this scope instance.
-   * @return {@code true} if asynchronous propagation is enabled <strong>for the active
-   *     scope</strong>, {@code false} otherwise.
-   */
-  @Deprecated
-  default boolean isAsyncPropagating() {
-    return GlobalTracer.get().isAsyncPropagationEnabled();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Tracer#setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean)}}.
-   *     <p>Calling this method will enable or disable asynchronous propagation <strong>for the
-   *     active scope</strong>, not this scope instance.
-   * @param value {@code true} to enable asynchronous propagation, {@code false} to disable it.
-   */
-  @Deprecated
-  default void setAsyncPropagation(boolean value) {
-    GlobalTracer.get().setAsyncPropagationEnabled(value);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Used to pass async context between workers. A trace will not be reported until all spans and
    * continuations are resolved. You must call activate (and close on the returned scope) or cancel
@@ -76,4 +40,47 @@ interface Continuation {
     /** Allow trace to stop waiting on this continuation for reporting. */
     void cancel();
   }
+
+  /**
+   * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Tracer#captureActiveSpan()}.
+   *     <p>When asynchronous propagation is enabled, prevent the <strong>currently active
+   *     trace</strong>, which may differ from this scope instance, from reporting until the
+   *     returned Continuation is either activated (and the returned scope is closed) or the
+   *     continuation is canceled. Should be called on the parent thread.
+   * @return Continuation of the active span, no-op continuation if there's no active span or
+   *     asynchronous propagation is disabled.
+   */
+  @Deprecated
+  default Continuation capture() {
+    return GlobalTracer.get().captureActiveSpan();
+  }
+
+  /** @deprecated Replaced by {@code capture().hold()}. */
+  @Deprecated
+  default Continuation captureConcurrent() {
+    return capture().hold();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Tracer#isAsyncPropagationEnabled()}.
+   *     <p>Calling this method will check whether asynchronous propagation is enabled <strong>for
+   *     the active scope</strong>, not this scope instance.
+   * @return {@code true} if asynchronous propagation is enabled <strong>for the active
+   *     scope</strong>, {@code false} otherwise.
+   */
+  @Deprecated
+  default boolean isAsyncPropagating() {
+    return GlobalTracer.get().isAsyncPropagationEnabled();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @deprecated Replaced by {@link Tracer#setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean)}}.
+   *     <p>Calling this method will enable or disable asynchronous propagation <strong>for the
+   *     active scope</strong>, not this scope instance.
+   * @param value {@code true} to enable asynchronous propagation, {@code false} to disable it.
+   */
+  @Deprecated
+  default void setAsyncPropagation(boolean value) {
+    GlobalTracer.get().setAsyncPropagationEnabled(value);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/dd-trace-core/src/main/java/datadog/trace/core/CoreTracer.java b/dd-trace-core/src/main/java/datadog/trace/core/CoreTracer.java
index 09d578d06d0..4b3d2e50b4a 100644
--- a/dd-trace-core/src/main/java/datadog/trace/core/CoreTracer.java
+++ b/dd-trace-core/src/main/java/datadog/trace/core/CoreTracer.java
@@ -929,6 +929,16 @@ public AgentScope activateSpan(AgentSpan span, ScopeSource source, boolean isAsy
     return scopeManager.activate(span, source, isAsyncPropagating);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public AgentScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan() {
+    AgentScope activeScope = this.scopeManager.active();
+    if (null != activeScope) {
+      return activeScope.capture();
+    } else {
+      return AgentTracer.noopContinuation();
+    }
+  }
+
   @Override
   public AgentScope.Continuation captureSpan(final AgentSpan span) {
     return scopeManager.captureSpan(span);
diff --git a/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/DDTracer.java b/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/DDTracer.java
index 0c3df7900d0..07c86816ca8 100644
--- a/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/DDTracer.java
+++ b/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/DDTracer.java
@@ -430,23 +430,28 @@ public String getSpanId() {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean isAsyncPropagationEnabled() {
-    return tracer.isAsyncPropagationEnabled();
+  public boolean addTraceInterceptor(final TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor) {
+    return tracer.addTraceInterceptor(traceInterceptor);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean asyncPropagationEnabled) {
-    tracer.setAsyncPropagationEnabled(asyncPropagationEnabled);
+  public TraceScope muteTracing() {
+    return tracer.muteTracing();
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean addTraceInterceptor(final TraceInterceptor traceInterceptor) {
-    return tracer.addTraceInterceptor(traceInterceptor);
+  public TraceScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan() {
+    return tracer.captureActiveSpan();
   }
 
   @Override
-  public TraceScope muteTracing() {
-    return tracer.muteTracing();
+  public boolean isAsyncPropagationEnabled() {
+    return tracer.isAsyncPropagationEnabled();
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void setAsyncPropagationEnabled(boolean asyncPropagationEnabled) {
+    tracer.setAsyncPropagationEnabled(asyncPropagationEnabled);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/OTScopeManager.java b/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/OTScopeManager.java
index 8338ec947e4..fa0890a7696 100644
--- a/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/OTScopeManager.java
+++ b/dd-trace-ot/src/main/java/datadog/opentracing/OTScopeManager.java
@@ -91,11 +91,6 @@ public int hashCode() {
       return delegate.hashCode();
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public Continuation capture() {
-      return delegate.capture();
-    }
-
     boolean isFinishSpanOnClose() {
       return finishSpanOnClose;
     }
diff --git a/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/bootstrap/instrumentation/api/AgentTracer.java b/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/bootstrap/instrumentation/api/AgentTracer.java
index 5c5f6355c5d..d6ef6e5a5dc 100644
--- a/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/bootstrap/instrumentation/api/AgentTracer.java
+++ b/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/bootstrap/instrumentation/api/AgentTracer.java
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ public static AgentScope activateSpan(final AgentSpan span, final boolean isAsyn
     return get().activateSpan(span, ScopeSource.INSTRUMENTATION, isAsyncPropagating);
   }
 
+  public static AgentScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan() {
+    return get().captureActiveSpan();
+  }
+
   public static AgentScope.Continuation captureSpan(final AgentSpan span) {
     return get().captureSpan(span);
   }
@@ -130,11 +134,6 @@ public static AgentScope activeScope() {
     return get().activeScope();
   }
 
-  public static AgentScope.Continuation capture() {
-    final AgentScope activeScope = activeScope();
-    return activeScope == null ? null : activeScope.capture();
-  }
-
   /**
    * Checks whether asynchronous propagation is enabled, meaning this context will propagate across
    * asynchronous boundaries.
@@ -290,6 +289,9 @@ AgentSpan startSpan(
 
     AgentScope activateSpan(AgentSpan span, ScopeSource source, boolean isAsyncPropagating);
 
+    @Override
+    AgentScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan();
+
     AgentScope.Continuation captureSpan(AgentSpan span);
 
     void closePrevious(boolean finishSpan);
@@ -429,6 +431,11 @@ public AgentScope activateSpan(
       return NoopScope.INSTANCE;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public AgentScope.Continuation captureActiveSpan() {
+      return NoopContinuation.INSTANCE;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AgentScope.Continuation captureSpan(final AgentSpan span) {
       return NoopContinuation.INSTANCE;