diff --git a/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts b/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
index 5aec24c651..6be97b4906 100644
--- a/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function init(component, options, instance, create_fragment, not_equal, p
 		callbacks: blank_object(),
 		dirty,
 		skip_bound: false,
-		root: options.target || parent_component.$$.root
+		root: options.target || parent_component?.$$.root
 	};
 
 	append_styles && append_styles($$.root);