diff --git a/src/lib/template/dom-if.html b/src/lib/template/dom-if.html
index 01dce89f90..9d699a22c7 100644
--- a/src/lib/template/dom-if.html
+++ b/src/lib/template/dom-if.html
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
       if (!parentNode ||
           (parentNode.nodeType == Node.DOCUMENT_FRAGMENT_NODE &&
            (!Polymer.Settings.hasShadow ||
-            !(this.parentNode instanceof ShadowRoot)))) {
+            !(parentNode instanceof ShadowRoot)))) {
         this._teardownInstance();
       }
     },