diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 98d28bc6c7a..9b13f60516f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 - Added initial sorting option to `EuiInMemoryTable` ([#547](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/547))
 
+**Bug fixes**
+
+- `EuiConfirmModal` will now check for the presence of confirm and cancel buttons before trying to focus them ([#555](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/555))
+
 # [`0.0.32`](https://github.com/elastic/eui/tree/v0.0.32)
 
 - Updated `EuiDescriptionList` to accept nodes for the titles and descriptions ([#552](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/552))
diff --git a/src/components/modal/confirm_modal.js b/src/components/modal/confirm_modal.js
index 5b6f19db31b..d39fc7a6787 100644
--- a/src/components/modal/confirm_modal.js
+++ b/src/components/modal/confirm_modal.js
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ export class EuiConfirmModal extends Component {
     // elements conflicts with the focus-trap logic we have on EuiModal.
     const { defaultFocusedButton } = this.props;
 
-    // Wait a beat for the focus-trap to complete, and then set focus to the right button.
+    // Wait a beat for the focus-trap to complete, and then set focus to the right button. Check that
+    // the buttons exist first, because it's possible the modal has been closed already.
     requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-      if (defaultFocusedButton === CANCEL_BUTTON) {
+      if (defaultFocusedButton === CANCEL_BUTTON && this.cancelButton) {
         this.cancelButton.focus();
-      } else if (defaultFocusedButton === CONFIRM_BUTTON) {
+      } else if (defaultFocusedButton === CONFIRM_BUTTON && this.confirmButton) {
         this.confirmButton.focus();
       }
     });