diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/hmr.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/hmr.js
index 13ee35b20d..be8f4e7b23 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/hmr.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dev/hmr.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ export function hmr(fn) {
 
 		let ran = false;
 
+		var parent_effect = /** @type {Effect} */ (active_effect);
+
 		block(() => {
 			if (component === (component = get(current))) {
 				return;
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ export function hmr(fn) {
 			// Forward the nodes from the inner effect to the outer active effect which would
 			// get them if the HMR wrapper wasn't there. Do this inside the block not outside
 			// so that HMR updates to the component will also update the nodes on the active effect.
-			/** @type {Effect} */ (active_effect).nodes = effect.nodes;
+			parent_effect.nodes ??= effect.nodes;
 		}, EFFECT_TRANSPARENT);
 
 		ran = true;
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/branches.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/branches.js
index fe1a99cd54..a2ffa77c04 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/branches.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/branches.js
@@ -159,9 +159,13 @@ export class BranchManager {
 
 		if (fn && !this.#onscreen.has(key) && !this.#offscreen.has(key)) {
 			if (defer) {
+				var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
+				var anchor = create_text();
+				fragment.append(anchor);
+
 				this.#offscreen.set(
 					key,
-					branch(() => fn(create_text()))
+					branch(() => fn(anchor))
 				);
 			} else {
 				this.#onscreen.set(