diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
index 5861e26e14..3c3ca4f7fd 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
 import { get_descriptor } from '../utils.js';
+import { DEV } from 'esm-env';
 
 // We cache the Node and Element prototype methods, so that we can avoid doing
 // expensive prototype chain lookups.
@@ -70,6 +71,11 @@ export function init_operations() {
 	// @ts-expect-error
 	element_prototype.__attributes = null;
 
+	if (DEV) {
+		// @ts-expect-error
+		element_prototype.__svelte_meta = null;
+	}
+
 	first_child_get = /** @type {(this: Node) => ChildNode | null} */ (
 		// @ts-ignore
 		get_descriptor(node_prototype, 'firstChild').get