diff --git a/src/factory.js b/src/factory.js
index 9911014..a73271c 100644
--- a/src/factory.js
+++ b/src/factory.js
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ export default function plotComponentFactory(Plotly) {
 
       this.removeUpdateEvents();
 
+      if (!this.el) {
+        return;
+      }
+      
       Plotly.purge(this.el);
     }