diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_metrics/handlers/opentelemetry.py b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_metrics/handlers/opentelemetry.py
index 1fb9b2e55..8591d7598 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_metrics/handlers/opentelemetry.py
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_metrics/handlers/opentelemetry.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ def on_attempt_complete(
                 attempt.gfe_latency,
                 {"streaming": is_streaming, "status": status, **labels},
             )
-        else:
-            # gfe headers not attached. Record a connectivity error.
-            # TODO: this should not be recorded as an error when direct path is enabled
-            self.otel.connectivity_error_count.add(1, {"status": status, **labels})
+        # gfe headers not attached. Record a connectivity error.
+        # TODO: this should not be recorded as an error when direct path is enabled
+        is_error = attempt.gfe_latency is None
+        self.otel.connectivity_error_count.add(int(is_error), {"status": status, **labels})