diff --git a/packages/components/src/higher-order/navigate-regions/index.js b/packages/components/src/higher-order/navigate-regions/index.js
index 93ec95af801e0e..db9fc877e9467e 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/higher-order/navigate-regions/index.js
+++ b/packages/components/src/higher-order/navigate-regions/index.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function useNavigateRegions( ref, shortcuts = defaultShortcuts ) {
 		ref.current.addEventListener( 'click', onClick );
 
 		return () => {
-			ref.current.removeEventListener( 'click', onClick );
+			ref.current?.removeEventListener( 'click', onClick );
 		};
 	}, [ setIsFocusingRegions ] );