diff --git a/packages/core/src/handler/mxGraphHandler.js b/packages/core/src/handler/mxGraphHandler.js
index b1e4bca37..0f0e31306 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/handler/mxGraphHandler.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/handler/mxGraphHandler.js
@@ -1618,6 +1618,7 @@ class mxGraphHandler {
           const { target } = this;
 
           if (
+            target &&
             graph.isSplitEnabled() &&
             graph.isSplitTarget(target, this.cells, me.getEvent())
           ) {