diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/launchdarkly.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/launchdarkly.py
index 6b9d654cd1..066464cc22 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/launchdarkly.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/launchdarkly.py
@@ -4,37 +4,39 @@
 from sentry_sdk.integrations import DidNotEnable, Integration
 from sentry_sdk.flag_utils import flag_error_processor
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from typing import Any, Optional
-
 try:
+    import ldclient
     from ldclient.hook import Hook, Metadata
 
     if TYPE_CHECKING:
         from ldclient import LDClient
         from ldclient.hook import EvaluationSeriesContext
         from ldclient.evaluation import EvaluationDetail
+
+        from typing import Any
 except ImportError:
     raise DidNotEnable("LaunchDarkly is not installed")
 
 
 class LaunchDarklyIntegration(Integration):
     identifier = "launchdarkly"
-    _client = None  # type: Optional[LDClient]
+    _ld_client = None  # type: LDClient | None
 
-    def __init__(self, client):
-        # type: (LDClient) -> None
+    def __init__(self, ld_client=None):
+        # type: (LDClient | None) -> None
         """
-        :param client: An initialized LDClient instance.
+        :param client: An initialized LDClient instance. If a client is not provided, this
+            integration will attempt to use the shared global instance.
         """
-        self.__class__._client = client
+        self.__class__._ld_client = ld_client
 
     @staticmethod
     def setup_once():
         # type: () -> None
-        client = LaunchDarklyIntegration._client
-        if not client:
-            raise DidNotEnable("Error getting LDClient instance")
+        try:
+            client = LaunchDarklyIntegration._ld_client or ldclient.get()
+        except Exception as exc:
+            raise DidNotEnable("Error getting LaunchDarkly client. " + repr(exc))
 
         # Register the flag collection hook with the LD client.
         client.add_hook(LaunchDarklyHook())
diff --git a/tests/integrations/launchdarkly/test_launchdarkly.py b/tests/integrations/launchdarkly/test_launchdarkly.py
index 73f4f71886..e7576bb469 100644
--- a/tests/integrations/launchdarkly/test_launchdarkly.py
+++ b/tests/integrations/launchdarkly/test_launchdarkly.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from ldclient.integrations.test_data import TestData
 
 import sentry_sdk
+from sentry_sdk.integrations import DidNotEnable
 from sentry_sdk.integrations.launchdarkly import LaunchDarklyIntegration
 
 
@@ -26,10 +27,11 @@ def test_launchdarkly_integration(
     uninstall_integration(LaunchDarklyIntegration.identifier)
     if use_global_client:
         ldclient.set_config(config)
+        sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration()])
         client = ldclient.get()
     else:
         client = LDClient(config=config)
-    sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(client)])
+        sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(ld_client=client)])
 
     # Set test values
     td.update(td.flag("hello").variation_for_all(True))
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ def test_launchdarkly_integration_threaded(
     context = Context.create("user1")
 
     uninstall_integration(LaunchDarklyIntegration.identifier)
-    sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(client)])
+    sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(ld_client=client)])
     events = capture_events()
 
     def task(flag_key):
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ def test_launchdarkly_integration_asyncio(
     context = Context.create("user1")
 
     uninstall_integration(LaunchDarklyIntegration.identifier)
-    sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(client)])
+    sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration(ld_client=client)])
     events = capture_events()
 
     async def task(flag_key):
@@ -164,3 +166,23 @@ async def runner():
             {"flag": "world", "result": False},
         ]
     }
+
+
+def test_launchdarkly_integration_did_not_enable(sentry_init, uninstall_integration):
+    """
+    Setup should fail when using global client and ldclient.set_config wasn't called.
+
+    We're accessing ldclient internals to set up this test, so it might break if launchdarkly's
+    implementation changes.
+    """
+
+    ldclient._reset_client()
+    try:
+        ldclient.__lock.lock()
+        ldclient.__config = None
+    finally:
+        ldclient.__lock.unlock()
+
+    uninstall_integration(LaunchDarklyIntegration.identifier)
+    with pytest.raises(DidNotEnable):
+        sentry_init(integrations=[LaunchDarklyIntegration()])