diff --git a/.changeset/clever-cats-dance.md b/.changeset/clever-cats-dance.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3322608095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/clever-cats-dance.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"svelte": patch
+---
+
+fix: handle non-string values in `svelte:element` `this` attribute
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/SvelteElement.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/SvelteElement.js
index cfa79b73ca..c8192cf00a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/SvelteElement.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/SvelteElement.js
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ export function SvelteElement(node, context) {
 	);
 
 	if (dev) {
+		statements.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_dynamic_element_tag', get_tag)));
 		if (node.fragment.nodes.length > 0) {
 			statements.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_void_dynamic_element', get_tag)));
 		}
-		statements.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_dynamic_element_tag', get_tag)));
 	}
 
 	const location = dev && locator(node.start);
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/server/visitors/SvelteElement.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/server/visitors/SvelteElement.js
index 6fc1ca5dfc..1ac15893f2 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/server/visitors/SvelteElement.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/server/visitors/SvelteElement.js
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ export function SvelteElement(node, context) {
 			tag = b.id(tag_id);
 		}
 
+		context.state.init.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_dynamic_element_tag', b.thunk(tag))));
 		if (node.fragment.nodes.length > 0) {
 			context.state.init.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_void_dynamic_element', b.thunk(tag))));
 		}
-		context.state.init.push(b.stmt(b.call('$.validate_dynamic_element_tag', b.thunk(tag))));
 	}
 
 	const state = {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/_config.js b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/_config.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b0dcaa8fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/_config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { test } from '../../test';
+
+export default test({
+	mode: ['client', 'server'],
+
+	compileOptions: {
+		dev: true
+	},
+
+	get props() {
+		return { tag: true };
+	},
+
+	error:
+		'svelte_element_invalid_this_value\n' +
+		'The `this` prop on `<svelte:element>` must be a string, if defined'
+});
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/main.svelte b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/main.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc6736a497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/samples/dynamic-element-invalid-this-content/main.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<script>
+	export let tag;
+</script>
+
+<svelte:element this={tag}>content</svelte:element>