diff --git a/web/src/playground_links_popover.ts b/web/src/playground_links_popover.ts
index 1ab82a2040..f6eff373f7 100644
--- a/web/src/playground_links_popover.ts
+++ b/web/src/playground_links_popover.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import * as ui_util from "./ui_util";
 
 type RealmPlaygroundWithURL = RealmPlayground & {playground_url: string};
 
-let playground_links_popover_instance: tippy.Instance;
+let playground_links_popover_instance: tippy.Instance | null = null;
 
 // Playground_store contains all the data we need to generate a popover of
 // playground links for each code block. The element is the target element
@@ -63,16 +63,19 @@ export function is_open(): boolean {
 }
 
 export function hide(): void {
-    if (is_open()) {
-        $(playground_links_popover_instance.reference)
-            .parent()
-            .removeClass("active-playground-links-reference");
-        playground_links_popover_instance.destroy();
+    if (!playground_links_popover_instance) {
+        return;
     }
+
+    $(playground_links_popover_instance.reference)
+        .parent()
+        .removeClass("active-playground-links-reference");
+    playground_links_popover_instance.destroy();
+    playground_links_popover_instance = null;
 }
 
 function get_playground_links_popover_items(): JQuery | undefined {
-    if (!is_open()) {
+    if (!playground_links_popover_instance) {
         blueslip.error("Trying to get menu items when playground links popover is closed.");
         return undefined;
     }