diff --git a/src/DragDropContext.js b/src/DragDropContext.js
index 2b618cfcaa..b943bf47bb 100644
--- a/src/DragDropContext.js
+++ b/src/DragDropContext.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export default function DragDropContext(backendOrModule) {
       };
 
       getDecoratedComponentInstance() {
-        return this.refs.child;
+        return this.child;
       }
 
       getManager() {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export default function DragDropContext(backendOrModule) {
       render() {
         return (
           <DecoratedComponent {...this.props}
-                              ref='child' />
+                              ref={child => this.child = child} />
         );
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/DragLayer.js b/src/DragLayer.js
index b830ad3179..f3fcb644aa 100644
--- a/src/DragLayer.js
+++ b/src/DragLayer.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export default function DragLayer(collect, options = {}) {
       }
 
       getDecoratedComponentInstance() {
-        return this.refs.child;
+        return this.child;
       }
 
       shouldComponentUpdate(nextProps, nextState) {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ export default function DragLayer(collect, options = {}) {
         return (
           <DecoratedComponent {...this.props}
                               {...this.state}
-                              ref='child' />
+                              ref={child => this.child = child} />
         );
       }
     }