diff --git a/lib/lightstep.rb b/lib/lightstep.rb
index ccf7f4a..a6e9b36 100644
--- a/lib/lightstep.rb
+++ b/lib/lightstep.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ module LightStep
   def self.micros(time)
     (time.to_f * 1E6).floor
   end
+
+  # Returns a random guid. Note: this intentionally does not use SecureRandom,
+  # which is slower and cryptographically secure randomness is not required here.
+  def self.guid
+    @_rng ||= Random.new
+    @_rng.bytes(8).unpack('H*')[0]
+  end
 end
 
 require 'lightstep/tracer'
diff --git a/lib/lightstep/span.rb b/lib/lightstep/span.rb
index 751a86f..2c52616 100644
--- a/lib/lightstep/span.rb
+++ b/lib/lightstep/span.rb
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ module LightStep
       @baggage = Concurrent::Hash.new
 
       @tracer = tracer
-      @guid = tracer.generate_guid
+      @guid = LightStep.guid
       self.operation_name = operation_name
       self.start_micros = start_micros
       self.trace_guid = trace_guid
diff --git a/lib/lightstep/tracer.rb b/lib/lightstep/tracer.rb
index 0c1b6c3..3aa93bb 100644
--- a/lib/lightstep/tracer.rb
+++ b/lib/lightstep/tracer.rb
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ module LightStep
         child_of_guid = child_of.guid
         trace_guid = child_of.trace_guid
       else
-        trace_guid = generate_guid
+        trace_guid = LightStep.guid
       end
 
       Span.new(
@@ -186,13 +186,6 @@ module LightStep
       @dropped_logs.increment if full
     end
 
-    # Returns a random guid. Note: this intentionally does not use SecureRandom,
-    # which is slower and cryptographically secure randomness is not required here.
-    def generate_guid
-      @_rng ||= Random.new
-      @_rng.bytes(8).unpack('H*')[0]
-    end
-
     protected
 
     def access_token=(token)
@@ -212,7 +205,7 @@ module LightStep
       @dropped_spans = Concurrent::AtomicFixnum.new
 
       start_time = LightStep.micros(Time.now)
-      @guid = generate_guid
+      @guid = LightStep.guid
       @report_start_time = start_time
       @last_flush_micros = start_time