diff --git a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/dropdown/dropdown.tsx b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/dropdown/dropdown.tsx
index 5f7d27c4fa3..55e77ea0302 100644
--- a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/dropdown/dropdown.tsx
+++ b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/dropdown/dropdown.tsx
@@ -655,16 +655,12 @@ export class Dropdown
     );
   };
 
-  private getFocusableElement(item): void {
+  private getFocusableElement(item: HTMLCalciteDropdownItemElement): void {
     if (!item) {
       return;
     }
 
-    const target = item.attributes.isLink
-      ? item.shadowRoot.querySelector("a")
-      : (item as HTMLCalciteDropdownItemElement);
-
-    focusElement(target);
+    focusElement(item);
   }
 
   private toggleOpenEnd = (): void => {