diff --git a/.changeset/fair-olives-chew.md b/.changeset/fair-olives-chew.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b0a3cc88bb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fair-olives-chew.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@shopify/polaris': minor
+---
+
+[Modal] Activator no longer wrapped in Box
diff --git a/polaris-react/src/components/Modal/Modal.tsx b/polaris-react/src/components/Modal/Modal.tsx
index 890915adb35..a9003656753 100644
--- a/polaris-react/src/components/Modal/Modal.tsx
+++ b/polaris-react/src/components/Modal/Modal.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, {useState, useCallback, useRef, useId} from 'react';
+import React, {useState, useCallback, useRef, useId, cloneElement} from 'react';
 import {TransitionGroup} from 'react-transition-group';
 
 import {focusFirstFocusableNode} from '../../utilities/focus';
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export const Modal: React.FunctionComponent<ModalProps> & {
   const [closing, setClosing] = useState(false);
 
   const headerId = useId();
-  const activatorRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const activatorRef = useRef<HTMLElement>(null);
 
   const i18n = useI18n();
   const iframeTitle = i18n.translate('Polaris.Modal.iFrameTitle');
@@ -223,9 +223,9 @@ export const Modal: React.FunctionComponent<ModalProps> & {
   const animated = !instant;
 
   const activatorMarkup =
-    activator && !isRef(activator) ? (
-      <Box ref={activatorRef}>{activator}</Box>
-    ) : null;
+    activator && !isRef(activator)
+      ? cloneElement(activator, {ref: activatorRef})
+      : null;
 
   return (
     <WithinContentContext.Provider value>