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
@@ -134,13 +134,15 @@ export function emptyNode(target: Node) 
  */
 export function startupWidgets(target: Node | _WidgetBase, skipNode?: Node) {
     if (isNode(target)) {
-        const w = registry.byNode(target);
+        const w = isElementNode(target) ? registry.byNode(target) : undefined;
         if (w) {
-            w.startup && w.startup();
+            if (w.startup)
+                w.startup();
         } else {
-            registry.findWidgets(target, skipNode).forEach(w => w.startup());
+            registry.findWidgets(target, skipNode).forEach(x => x.startup());
         }
     } else {
-        target.startup && target.startup();
+        if(target.startup)
+            target.startup();
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file