diff --git a/core/trace/message_test.go b/core/trace/message_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..039a5e76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/trace/message_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package trace
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/codes"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/dynamicpb"
+)
+
+func TestMessageType_Event(t *testing.T) {
+	var span mockSpan
+	ctx := trace.ContextWithSpan(context.Background(), &span)
+	MessageReceived.Event(ctx, 1, "foo")
+	assert.Equal(t, messageEvent, span.name)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, span.options)
+}
+
+func TestMessageType_EventProtoMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	var span mockSpan
+	var message mockMessage
+	ctx := trace.ContextWithSpan(context.Background(), &span)
+	MessageReceived.Event(ctx, 1, message)
+	assert.Equal(t, messageEvent, span.name)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, span.options)
+}
+
+type mockSpan struct {
+	name    string
+	options []trace.EventOption
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) End(options ...trace.SpanEndOption) {
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) AddEvent(name string, options ...trace.EventOption) {
+	m.name = name
+	m.options = options
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) IsRecording() bool {
+	return false
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) RecordError(err error, options ...trace.EventOption) {
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) SpanContext() trace.SpanContext {
+	panic("implement me")
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) SetStatus(code codes.Code, description string) {
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) SetName(name string) {
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) SetAttributes(kv ...attribute.KeyValue) {
+}
+
+func (m *mockSpan) TracerProvider() trace.TracerProvider {
+	return nil
+}
+
+type mockMessage struct{}
+
+func (m mockMessage) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	return new(dynamicpb.Message)
+}