diff --git a/apm-sniffer/apm-agent-core/src/main/java/org/skywalking/apm/agent/core/context/trace/NoopSpan.java b/apm-sniffer/apm-agent-core/src/main/java/org/skywalking/apm/agent/core/context/trace/NoopSpan.java
index 716beb72c..8f129d643 100644
--- a/apm-sniffer/apm-agent-core/src/main/java/org/skywalking/apm/agent/core/context/trace/NoopSpan.java
+++ b/apm-sniffer/apm-agent-core/src/main/java/org/skywalking/apm/agent/core/context/trace/NoopSpan.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public class NoopSpan implements AbstractSpan {
     }
 
     @Override public AbstractSpan errorOccurred() {
-        return null;
+        return this;
     }
 
     public void finish() {