diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c7d998065a2..e81ccaf4f46 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 
 - `sdktrace.TraceProvider.Shutdown` and `sdktrace.TraceProvider.ForceFlush` to not return error when no processor register. (#3268)
 - The `"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/prometheus".New` now also returns an error indicating the failure to register the exporter with Prometheus. (#3239)
+- The prometheus exporter will no longer try to enumerate the metrics it will send to prometheus on startup.
+   This fixes the `reader is not registered` warning currently emitted on startup. (#3291 #3342)
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
index 007dc2f50d9..e14fa3638c6 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
@@ -69,13 +69,11 @@ func New(opts ...Option) (*Exporter, error) {
 
 // Describe implements prometheus.Collector.
 func (c *collector) Describe(ch chan<- *prometheus.Desc) {
-	metrics, err := c.reader.Collect(context.TODO())
-	if err != nil {
-		otel.Handle(err)
-	}
-	for _, metricData := range getMetricData(metrics) {
-		ch <- metricData.description
-	}
+	// The Opentelemetry SDK doesn't have information on which will exist when the collector
+	// is registered. By returning nothing we are an "unchecked" collector in Prometheus,
+	// and assume responsibility for consistency of the metrics produced.
+	//
+	// See https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/prometheus/client_golang@v1.13.0/prometheus#hdr-Custom_Collectors_and_constant_Metrics
 }
 
 // Collect implements prometheus.Collector.