diff --git a/glue_astronomy/translators/tests/test_trace.py b/glue_astronomy/translators/tests/test_trace.py
index 7bd69af..00e42f4 100644
--- a/glue_astronomy/translators/tests/test_trace.py
+++ b/glue_astronomy/translators/tests/test_trace.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import numpy as np
-import pytest
 
 from specreduce import tracing
 from specreduce.utils.synth_data import make_2dspec_image
@@ -14,8 +13,8 @@ def test_trace():
 
     data_collection = DataCollection()
 
-    data_collection['trace'] = trace
-    data = data_collection['trace']
+    data_collection['dc_trace'] = trace
+    data = data_collection['dc_trace']
     assert isinstance(data, Data)
     assert np.all(data['trace'] == trace.trace)
 
@@ -28,8 +27,3 @@ def test_trace():
     trace_from_data = data.get_object()
     assert isinstance(trace_from_data, tracing.ArrayTrace)
     assert np.all(trace_from_data.trace == new_trace)
-
-    # error raised if the x changes
-    data.update_components({data.get_component('x'): np.ones_like(trace.trace)})
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-        trace_from_data = data.get_object()
diff --git a/glue_astronomy/translators/trace.py b/glue_astronomy/translators/trace.py
index 6baaa1f..c9ac626 100644
--- a/glue_astronomy/translators/trace.py
+++ b/glue_astronomy/translators/trace.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def to_data(self, obj):
         obj : `specreduce.tracing.Trace`
             The Trace object to convert
         """
-        data = Data(x=obj.image[0], trace=obj.trace)
+        data = Data(trace=obj.trace)
         if hasattr(obj, 'meta'):
             data.meta.update(obj.meta)
         data.meta['Trace'] = obj
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@ def to_object(self, data, attribute=None):
             raise TypeError("data is not of a valid specreduce Trace object")
 
         trace = data.meta['Trace']
-        trace_x = np.asarray(trace.image[0])
-        # NOTE: glue does not allow changing the shape of data components, so we can assume
-        # these arrays are still the appropriate length
-        if not np.all(trace_x == data['x']):
-            raise ValueError("x-values have changed")
         if not np.all(trace.trace[1] == data['trace']):
             trace = ArrayTrace(trace.image, data['trace'])