diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/Notification/Notification.tsx b/packages/react/src/components/Notification/Notification.tsx
index 83ce57ef3ac1..f37736e20e1b 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/Notification/Notification.tsx
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/Notification/Notification.tsx
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ function useEscapeToClose(ref, callback, override = true) {
     // The callback should only be called when focus is on or within the container
     const elementContainsFocus =
       (ref.current && document.activeElement === ref.current) ||
-      ref.current.contains(document.activeElement);
+      ref.current?.contains(document.activeElement);
 
     if (matches(event, [keys.Escape]) && override && elementContainsFocus) {
       callback(event);