diff --git a/changelog.d/5985.feature b/changelog.d/5985.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e5e29504af57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/5985.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Check at setup that opentracing is installed if it's enabled in the config.
diff --git a/synapse/config/tracer.py b/synapse/config/tracer.py
index 95e7ccb3a3b1..85d99a3166ac 100644
--- a/synapse/config/tracer.py
+++ b/synapse/config/tracer.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from synapse.python_dependencies import DependencyException, check_requirements
+
 from ._base import Config, ConfigError
 
 
@@ -32,6 +34,11 @@ def read_config(self, config, **kwargs):
         if not self.opentracer_enabled:
             return
 
+        try:
+            check_requirements("opentracing")
+        except DependencyException as e:
+            raise ConfigError(e.message)
+
         # The tracer is enabled so sanitize the config
 
         self.opentracer_whitelist = opentracing_config.get("homeserver_whitelist", [])