diff --git a/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts b/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
index e706928af305..626a8e9e6518 100644
--- a/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
+++ b/src/runtime/internal/Component.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ export function init(component, options, instance, create_fragment, not_equal, p
 		callbacks: blank_object(),
 		dirty,
 		skip_bound: false,
-		root: options.target || parent_component.$$.root
+		root: options.target || (parent_component ? parent_component.$$.root : document)
 	};
 
 	append_styles && append_styles($$.root);