diff --git a/packages/components/src/slot-fill/bubbles-virtually/slot-fill-provider.js b/packages/components/src/slot-fill/bubbles-virtually/slot-fill-provider.js
index d487d98fbfa9a..26b4a32c7c600 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/slot-fill/bubbles-virtually/slot-fill-provider.js
+++ b/packages/components/src/slot-fill/bubbles-virtually/slot-fill-provider.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function useSlotRegistry() {
 			const { [ name ]: slot, ...nextSlots } = prevSlots;
 			// Make sure we're not unregistering a slot registered by another element
 			// See https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/19242#issuecomment-590295412
-			if ( slot.ref === ref ) {
+			if ( slot?.ref === ref ) {
 				return nextSlots;
 			}
 			return prevSlots;