diff --git a/attribute/kv.go b/attribute/kv.go
index 8f579338554..1ddf3ce0580 100644
--- a/attribute/kv.go
+++ b/attribute/kv.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type KeyValue struct {
 
 // Valid returns if kv is a valid OpenTelemetry attribute.
 func (kv KeyValue) Valid() bool {
-	return kv.Key != "" && kv.Value.Type() != INVALID
+	return kv.Key.Defined() && kv.Value.Type() != INVALID
 }
 
 // Bool creates a KeyValue with a BOOL Value type.