diff --git a/src/runtime/set-value.ts b/src/runtime/set-value.ts
index e91a6cd06e9..e34d5b911ab 100644
--- a/src/runtime/set-value.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/set-value.ts
@@ -47,19 +47,21 @@ export const setValue = (ref: d.RuntimeRef, propName: string, newVal: any, cmpMe
 
     if (!BUILD.lazyLoad || instance) {
       // get an array of method names of watch functions to call
-      if (BUILD.watchCallback && cmpMeta.$watchers$ && flags & HOST_FLAGS.isWatchReady) {
-        const watchMethods = cmpMeta.$watchers$[propName];
+      if (BUILD.watchCallback && cmpMeta.$watchers$) {
+        if (!BUILD.lazyLoad || (BUILD.lazyLoad && flags & HOST_FLAGS.isWatchReady)) {
+          const watchMethods = cmpMeta.$watchers$[propName];
 
-        if (watchMethods) {
-          // this instance is watching for when this property changed
-          watchMethods.map(watchMethodName => {
-            try {
-              // fire off each of the watch methods that are watching this property
-              instance[watchMethodName](newVal, oldVal, propName);
-            } catch (e) {
-              consoleError(e);
-            }
-          });
+          if (watchMethods) {
+            // this instance is watching for when this property changed
+            watchMethods.map(watchMethodName => {
+              try {
+                // fire off each of the watch methods that are watching this property
+                instance[watchMethodName](newVal, oldVal, propName);
+              } catch (e) {
+                consoleError(e);
+              }
+            });
+          }
         }
       }