diff --git a/packages/test-utils/src/error.js b/packages/test-utils/src/error.js
index b7e3e6435..c20ad4003 100644
--- a/packages/test-utils/src/error.js
+++ b/packages/test-utils/src/error.js
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ function errorHandler(errorOrString, vm) {
   const error =
     typeof errorOrString === 'object' ? errorOrString : new Error(errorOrString)
 
-  vm._error = error
+  if (vm) {
+    vm._error = error
+  }
+
   throw error
 }