diff --git a/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/WidgetRendition.ts b/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/WidgetRendition.ts
--- a/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/WidgetRendition.ts
+++ b/djx/src/main/ts/tsx/WidgetRendition.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import dom = require("dojo/dom-construct");
 import { argumentNotNull } from "@implab/core-amd/safe";
 import { RenditionBase } from "./RenditionBase";
-import { DojoNodePosition, isInPage, isWidget } from "./traits";
+import { DojoNodePosition, isElementNode, isInPage, isWidget } from "./traits";
 import registry = require("dijit/registry");
 import ContentPane = require("dijit/layout/ContentPane");
 
@@ -41,11 +41,18 @@ export class WidgetRendition extends Ren
             } else if (isWidget(child)) {
                 instance.addChild(child);
             } else {
-                if (!instance.containerNode)
-                    throw new Error("The widget doesn't have neither addChild nor containerNode");
+                const childDom = this.getItemDom(child);
+                const w = isElementNode(childDom) ? registry.byNode(childDom) : undefined;
 
-                // the current widget isn't started, it's children shouldn't start too
-                dom.place(this.getItemDom(child), instance.containerNode);
+                if (w) {
+                    instance.addChild(w);
+                } else {
+                    if (!instance.containerNode)
+                        throw new Error("Failed to add DOM content. The widget doesn't have a containerNode");
+
+                    // the current widget isn't started, it's children shouldn't start too
+                    dom.place(this.getItemDom(child), instance.containerNode);
+                }
             }
         } else {
             if (!instance.containerNode)