diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
index b5bedb2d6..bf612efc9 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ function handlePreRoute(flow, sendEvent, reportError) {
             return;
         } else if (err !== false) {
             sendEvent.destination.node = flow.getNode(sendEvent.destination.id);
-            if (sendEvent.destination.node) {
+            if (sendEvent.destination.node && typeof sendEvent.destination.node === 'object') {
                 if (sendEvent.cloneMessage) {
                     sendEvent.msg = redUtil.cloneMessage(sendEvent.msg);
                 }