diff --git a/src/runtime/test/render-vdom.spec.tsx b/src/runtime/test/render-vdom.spec.tsx
index 8dc8e425e87f..fde7fb425c99 100644
--- a/src/runtime/test/render-vdom.spec.tsx
+++ b/src/runtime/test/render-vdom.spec.tsx
@@ -1073,12 +1073,15 @@ describe('render-vdom', () => {
       @Component({ tag: 'cmp-a' })
       class CmpA {
         counter = 0;
-        setRef = () => {
-          this.counter++;
+        setRef = (el: HTMLDivElement | null) => {
+          if (el !== null) {
+            this.counter++;
+          }
         };
         @Prop() state = true;
 
         render() {
+          console.log('rendering, state:', this.state);
           return this.state ? <div ref={this.setRef}>Hello VDOM</div> : <div>Hello VDOM</div>;
         }
       }