diff --git a/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.spec.ts b/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.spec.ts
index 1958db1..7de2983 100644
--- a/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.spec.ts
@@ -242,4 +242,9 @@ describe('PlotlyComponent', () => {
         expect(component.loadTheme).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
         expect(component.themeLoader.load).not.toHaveBeenCalledOnceWith('plotly_dark');
     });
+
+    it('should not cause errors if ngOnDestroy is called before plotly is initialized', () => {
+        // note that this test intentionally does not call ngOnInit/whenStable
+        expect(() => component.ngOnDestroy()).not.toThrow();
+    });
 });
diff --git a/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.ts b/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.ts
index 6f9f0f3..ec2f0c6 100644
--- a/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.ts
+++ b/projects/plotly/src/lib/plotly.component.ts
@@ -143,9 +143,11 @@ export class PlotlyComponent implements OnInit, OnChanges, OnDestroy, DoCheck {
             this.resizeHandler = undefined;
         }
 
-        const figure = this.createFigure();
-        this.purge.emit(figure);
-        PlotlyService.remove(this.plotlyInstance!);
+        if (this.plotlyInstance) {
+            const figure = this.createFigure();
+            this.purge.emit(figure);
+            PlotlyService.remove(this.plotlyInstance);
+        }
     }
 
     ngOnChanges(changes: SimpleChanges): void {