diff --git a/.changeset/spotty-pears-agree.md b/.changeset/spotty-pears-agree.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b754485
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/spotty-pears-agree.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"react-movable": patch
+---
+
+add check for element presence in "checkIfInteractive" utility
diff --git a/src/utils.ts b/src/utils.ts
index 89046f7..5a0d118 100644
--- a/src/utils.ts
+++ b/src/utils.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ export function checkIfInteractive(target: Element, rootElement: Element) {
     "switch",
     "tab",
   ];
+  if (!target || !rootElement) return false;
+
   while (target !== rootElement) {
     if (target.getAttribute("data-movable-handle")) {
       return false;