diff --git a/spec/text-editor-component-spec.js b/spec/text-editor-component-spec.js
index 2028ae8bd..7a4608872 100644
--- a/spec/text-editor-component-spec.js
+++ b/spec/text-editor-component-spec.js
@@ -1762,13 +1762,13 @@ describe('TextEditorComponent', () => {
       expect(decorationNode3.firstChild).toBe(decorationElement2)
 
       decoration1.setProperties({type: 'gutter', gutterName: 'a', class: 'c', item: decorationElement1})
-      decoration2.setProperties({type: 'gutter', gutterName: 'a', item: decorationElement2})
+      decoration2.setProperties({type: 'gutter', gutterName: 'a'})
       decoration3.destroy()
       await component.getNextUpdatePromise()
       expect(decorationNode1.className).toBe('decoration c')
       expect(decorationNode1.firstChild).toBe(decorationElement1)
       expect(decorationNode2.className).toBe('decoration')
-      expect(decorationNode2.firstChild).toBe(decorationElement2)
+      expect(decorationNode2.firstChild).toBeNull()
       expect(gutterB.getElement().firstChild.children.length).toBe(0)
     })
   })
diff --git a/src/text-editor-component.js b/src/text-editor-component.js
index a93cbabba..a3a51a3aa 100644
--- a/src/text-editor-component.js
+++ b/src/text-editor-component.js
@@ -3275,7 +3275,7 @@ class CustomGutterDecorationComponent {
     if (newProps.className !== oldProps.className) this.element.className = newProps.className || ''
     if (newProps.element !== oldProps.element) {
       if (this.element.firstChild) this.element.firstChild.remove()
-      this.element.appendChild(newProps.element)
+      if (newProps.element != null) this.element.appendChild(newProps.element)
     }
   }
 }