diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
index 82677d0bc4..729fc862d2 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
@@ -90,11 +90,6 @@ export function if_block(anchor, get_condition, consequent_fn, alternate_fn, els
 						consequent_fn(anchor);
 						consequent_dom = block.d;
 
-						if (mismatch) {
-							// Set fragment so that Svelte continues to operate in hydration mode
-							set_current_hydration_fragment([]);
-						}
-
 						return () => {
 							// TODO make this unnecessary by linking the dom to the effect,
 							// and removing automatically on teardown
@@ -124,11 +119,6 @@ export function if_block(anchor, get_condition, consequent_fn, alternate_fn, els
 						alternate_fn(anchor);
 						alternate_dom = block.d;
 
-						if (mismatch) {
-							// Set fragment so that Svelte continues to operate in hydration mode
-							set_current_hydration_fragment([]);
-						}
-
 						return () => {
 							// TODO make this unnecessary by linking the dom to the effect,
 							// and removing automatically on teardown
@@ -150,6 +140,11 @@ export function if_block(anchor, get_condition, consequent_fn, alternate_fn, els
 				});
 			}
 		}
+
+		if (mismatch) {
+			// Set fragment so that Svelte continues to operate in hydration mode
+			set_current_hydration_fragment([]);
+		}
 	}, block);
 
 	if (elseif) {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
index ebd06796bf..81b03bbd2f 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
@@ -50,18 +50,11 @@ export function insert(current, sibling) {
 
 /**
  * @param {Array<import('../types.js').TemplateNode> | import('../types.js').TemplateNode} current
- * @returns {Element | Comment | Text}
  */
 export function remove(current) {
-	var first_node = current;
 	if (is_array(current)) {
-		var i = 0;
-		var node;
-		for (; i < current.length; i++) {
-			node = current[i];
-			if (i === 0) {
-				first_node = node;
-			}
+		for (var i = 0; i < current.length; i++) {
+			var node = current[i];
 			if (node.isConnected) {
 				node.remove();
 			}
@@ -69,7 +62,6 @@ export function remove(current) {
 	} else if (current.isConnected) {
 		current.remove();
 	}
-	return /** @type {Element | Comment | Text} */ (first_node);
 }
 
 /**