diff --git a/.changeset/chatty-mice-tan.md b/.changeset/chatty-mice-tan.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..49e6b85ceb0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/chatty-mice-tan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@sveltejs/kit': minor
+---
+
+Checks that element is not null before reading getAttribute
diff --git a/packages/kit/src/runtime/client/utils.js b/packages/kit/src/runtime/client/utils.js
index 8cdd0146f128..7f953d1f4dbd 100644
--- a/packages/kit/src/runtime/client/utils.js
+++ b/packages/kit/src/runtime/client/utils.js
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ export function get_router_options(element) {
 	/** @type {Element} */
 	let el = element;
 
-	while (el !== document.documentElement) {
+	while (el && el !== document.documentElement) {
 		if (preload_code === null) preload_code = link_option(el, 'preload-code');
 		if (preload_data === null) preload_data = link_option(el, 'preload-data');
 		if (noscroll === null) noscroll = link_option(el, 'noscroll');
diff --git a/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/src/routes/interactivity/toggle-element/+page.svelte b/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/src/routes/interactivity/toggle-element/+page.svelte
index 449acb98612c..cc0dcf6b0606 100644
--- a/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/src/routes/interactivity/toggle-element/+page.svelte
+++ b/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/src/routes/interactivity/toggle-element/+page.svelte
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 {#if visible}
 	<button on:click={toggle}>remove</button>
+	<a on:click={toggle}>remove</a>
 {:else}
 	<button on:click={toggle}>add</button>
+	<a on:click={toggle}>add</a>
 {/if}
diff --git a/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/test/client.test.js b/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/test/client.test.js
index ed5270f285dc..b81213171568 100644
--- a/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/test/client.test.js
+++ b/packages/kit/test/apps/basics/test/client.test.js
@@ -1200,6 +1200,10 @@ test.describe('Interactivity', () => {
 
 		await page.click('button');
 		expect(await page.textContent('button')).toBe('add');
+		expect(await page.textContent('a')).toBe('add');
+
+		await page.click('a');
+		expect(await page.textContent('a')).toBe('remove');
 
 		expect(errored).toBe(false);
 	});