diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/html-formatting-remover.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/html-formatting-remover.js
index 615feb80508a98..d097f8323bd109 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/html-formatting-remover.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/html-formatting-remover.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export default function( node ) {
 	}
 
 	// Ignore pre content.
-	if ( node.parentElement.closest( 'pre' ) ) {
+	if ( node.parentElement.closest && node.parentElement.closest( 'pre' ) ) {
 		return;
 	}