diff --git a/src/core/vdom/create-component.js b/src/core/vdom/create-component.js
index 697afbefb22..0ad941c8c24 100644
--- a/src/core/vdom/create-component.js
+++ b/src/core/vdom/create-component.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ const componentVNodeHooks = {
 
   destroy (vnode: MountedComponentVNode) {
     const { componentInstance } = vnode
-    if (!componentInstance._isDestroyed) {
+    if (!!componentInstance && !componentInstance._isDestroyed) {
       if (!vnode.data.keepAlive) {
         componentInstance.$destroy()
       } else {