diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/events/DOMEventResponderSystem.js b/packages/react-dom/src/events/DOMEventResponderSystem.js
index aae2ab55db..8834a21d59 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/events/DOMEventResponderSystem.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/events/DOMEventResponderSystem.js
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ const eventResponderContext: ReactResponderContext = {
         }
         if (
           fiber.tag === EventComponent &&
-          fiber.stateNode.responder === responder
+          (fiber.stateNode === null || fiber.stateNode.responder === responder)
         ) {
           return false;
         }