diff --git a/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/traits.ts b/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/traits.ts
--- a/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/traits.ts
+++ b/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/traits.ts
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ export function destroy(target: Node | I
     } else if (isDestroyable(target)) {
         target.destroy();
     } else if (isNode(target)) {
-        const self = registry.byNode(target);
-        if (self) {
-            self.destroyRecursive();
+        const w = isElementNode(target) ? registry.byNode(target) : undefined;
+        if (w) {
+            w.destroyRecursive();
         } else {
             registry.findWidgets(target).forEach(destroy);
             dom.destroy(target);