diff --git a/lib/elements/dom-if.js b/lib/elements/dom-if.js
index 0b95ac568e..f6b928f9ad 100644
--- a/lib/elements/dom-if.js
+++ b/lib/elements/dom-if.js
@@ -251,8 +251,10 @@ export class DomIf extends PolymerElement {
       if (c$ && c$.length) {
         // use first child parent, for case when dom-if may have been detached
         let parent = c$[0].parentNode;
-        for (let i=0, n; (i<c$.length) && (n=c$[i]); i++) {
-          parent.removeChild(n);
+        if (parent) {
+          for (let i=0, n; (i<c$.length) && (n=c$[i]); i++) {
+            parent.removeChild(n);
+          }
         }
       }
       this.__instance = null;