Events silently dropped when Sentry.init() is first statement (production builds only)

[mwx27]

What React Native libraries do you use?

RN New Architecture, Hermes, Expo Application Services (EAS), Expo Router, Expo (mobile only)

Are you using sentry.io or on-premise?

sentry.io (SaS)

@sentry/react-native SDK Version

7.8.0

How does your development environment look like?

⬇  Place the `npx react-native@latest info` output here. ⬇
System:
  OS: macOS 15.5
  CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 131.55 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.16.0
    path: /Users/maciejwojda/Library/Caches/fnm_multishells/45964_1767025842589/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.1
    path: /Users/maciejwojda/Library/Caches/fnm_multishells/45964_1767025842589/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.2
    path: /Users/maciejwojda/Library/Caches/fnm_multishells/45964_1767025842589/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.5
      - iOS 18.5
      - macOS 15.5
      - tvOS 18.5
      - visionOS 2.5
      - watchOS 11.5
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "34"
      - "35"
      - "36"
    Build Tools:
      - 34.0.0
      - 35.0.0
      - 35.0.1
      - 36.0.0
      - 36.0.0
    System Images:
      - android-35 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.1 AI-251.26094.121.2513.14007798
  Xcode:
    version: 16.4/16F6
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.15
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.2
    wanted: latest
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: 19.1.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.81.5
    wanted: 0.81.5
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

info React Native v0.83.0 is now available (your project is running on v0.81.5).
info Changelog: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/releases/tag/v0.83.0
info Diff: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/?from=0.81.5&to=0.83.0
info For more info, check out "https://reactnative.dev/docs/upgrading?os=macos".

Sentry.init()

  Sentry.init({
    dsn: SENTRY_DSN,

    // Disable in development mode to avoid noise
    enabled: !__DEV__,

    // Environment: preview or production (from APP_VARIANT in eas.json)
    environment: process.env.APP_VARIANT,

    // Release version for source maps and filtering
    release: Constants.expoConfig?.version ?? '1.0.0',

    // Adds more context data to events (IP address, cookies, user, etc.)
    // For more information, visit: https://docs.sentry.io/platforms/react-native/data-management/data-collected/
    sendDefaultPii: true,

    // Enable Logs
    enableLogs: true,

    // Configure Session Replay
    replaysSessionSampleRate: 0.1,
    replaysOnErrorSampleRate: 1,
    integrations: [Sentry.mobileReplayIntegration()],

    // Performance monitoring - sample 20% of transactions
    tracesSampleRate: 0.2,

    // Filter out non-actionable errors
    beforeSend(event, hint) {
      const error = hint.originalException;
      if (error instanceof Error) {
        // Ignore user connectivity issues
        if (error.message.includes('Network request failed')) {
          return null;
        }
      }
      return event;
    },

    // uncomment the line below to enable Spotlight (https://spotlightjs.com)
    // spotlight: __DEV__,
  });

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create new Expo app using npx create-expo-app@latest my-app

2. Install Sentry SDK using npx expo install @sentry/react-native

3. Configure EAS Update channel in eas.json:

   {
     "build": {
       "preview": {
         "channel": "preview",
         "env": {
           "EXPO_PUBLIC_SENTRY_DSN": "https://your-dsn@sentry.io/project"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

4. Create Sentry initialization file. File structure may vary - in our case it's lib/sentry/index.ts:
   import * as Sentry from '@sentry/react-native';

export function initializeSentry(): void {
if (!process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_SENTRY_DSN) {
return;
}
// No statement here - Sentry.init() is first after early return
Sentry.init({
dsn: process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_SENTRY_DSN,
enabled: true
});
}
5. Call initialization at app entry point. In our case it's app/_layout.tsx:
import { initializeSentry } from '@/lib/sentry';
initializeSentry();
6. Add test button that executes Sentry.captureException(new Error('Test error'))
7. Build Android preview app using eas build --profile preview --platform android
8. Install APK on device and launch the app
9. Click button executing Sentry.captureException(new Error('Test error'))
10. Check Sentry dashboard - no events appear (even though captureException does not throw)
11. Add any statement before Sentry.init():
export function initializeSentry(): void {
if (!process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_SENTRY_DSN) {
return;
}
console.log('test'); // <-- adding this line fixes the issue
Sentry.init({ ... });
}
12. Push OTA update using eas update --branch preview
13. Restart app to receive update
14. Click same button executing Sentry.captureException(new Error('Test error'))
15. Check Sentry dashboard - events now appear

Expected Result

described in steps to reproduce

Actual Result

described in steps to reproduce

[linear]

RN-447

[alwx]

@mwx27 thanks for reporting! We will check this issue and return back to you as soon as possible.