diff --git a/aws_xray_sdk/core/sampling/local/sampler.py b/aws_xray_sdk/core/sampling/local/sampler.py
index 469c41ed..fe524294 100644
--- a/aws_xray_sdk/core/sampling/local/sampler.py
+++ b/aws_xray_sdk/core/sampling/local/sampler.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def __init__(self, rules=local_sampling_rule):
         self.load_local_rules(rules)
         self._random = Random()
 
-    def should_trace(self, sampling_req):
+    def should_trace(self, sampling_req=None):
         """
         Return True if the sampler decide to sample based on input
         information and sampling rules. It will first check if any