diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/dom.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/dom.ts
index 0f5370fdb7..18545e677f 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/dom.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/dom.ts
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ export class ElementHandle<T extends Node = Node> extends js.JSHandle<T> {
       return this._finishPointerActionDetectLayoutShift(progress, actionName, point, options, action);
   }
 
-  private async _finishPointerAction(progress: Progress, actionName: string, point: types.Point, options: types.PointerActionOptions & types.PointerActionWaitOptions & types.NavigatingActionWaitOptions, action: (point: types.Point) => Promise<void>) {
+  private async _finishPointerAction(progress: Progress, actionName: string, point: types.Point, options: types.PointerActionOptions & types.PointerActionWaitOptions & types.NavigatingActionWaitOptions, action: (point: types.Point) => Promise<void>): Promise<'error:notconnected' | { hitTargetDescription: string } | 'done'> {
     if (!options.force) {
       if ((options as any).__testHookBeforeHitTarget)
         await (options as any).__testHookBeforeHitTarget();
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ export class ElementHandle<T extends Node = Node> extends js.JSHandle<T> {
     return 'done';
   }
 
-  private async _finishPointerActionDetectLayoutShift(progress: Progress, actionName: string, point: types.Point, options: types.PointerActionOptions & types.PointerActionWaitOptions & types.NavigatingActionWaitOptions, action: (point: types.Point) => Promise<void>) {
+  private async _finishPointerActionDetectLayoutShift(progress: Progress, actionName: string, point: types.Point, options: types.PointerActionOptions & types.PointerActionWaitOptions & types.NavigatingActionWaitOptions, action: (point: types.Point) => Promise<void>): Promise<'error:notconnected' | { hitTargetDescription: string } | 'done'> {
     await progress.beforeInputAction(this);
 
     let hitTargetInterceptionHandle: js.JSHandle<HitTargetInterceptionResult> | undefined;
diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/injected/injectedScript.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/injected/injectedScript.ts
index 6638388ee6..88438c2830 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/injected/injectedScript.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/injected/injectedScript.ts
@@ -728,6 +728,11 @@ export class InjectedScript {
       if (!event.isTrusted)
         return;
 
+      // Element was detached during the action, for example in some event handler.
+      // If events before that were correctly pointing to it, consider this a valid scenario.
+      if (!element.isConnected)
+        return;
+
       // Determine the event point. Note that Firefox does not always have window.TouchEvent.
       const point = (!!window.TouchEvent && (event instanceof window.TouchEvent)) ? event.touches[0] : (event as MouseEvent | PointerEvent);
       if (!!point && (result === undefined || result === 'done')) {
@@ -745,7 +750,11 @@ export class InjectedScript {
     const stop = () => {
       if (this._hitTargetInterceptor === listener)
         this._hitTargetInterceptor = undefined;
-      return result!;
+      // If we did not get any events, consider things working. Possible causes:
+      // - JavaScript is disabled (webkit-only).
+      // - Some <iframe> overlays the element from another frame.
+      // - Hovering a disabled control prevents any events from firing.
+      return result || 'done';
     };
 
     // Note: this removes previous listener, just in case there are two concurrent clicks
diff --git a/tests/hit-target.spec.ts b/tests/hit-target.spec.ts
index fcd164ae71..04f857e3eb 100644
--- a/tests/hit-target.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/hit-target.spec.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,19 @@ it('should block click when mousedown succeeds but mouseup fails', async ({ page
   ]);
 });
 
+it('should click when element detaches in mousedown', async ({ page, server }) => {
+  await page.goto(server.PREFIX + '/input/button.html');
+  await page.$eval('button', button => {
+    button.addEventListener('mousedown', () => {
+      (window as any).result = 'Mousedown';
+      button.remove();
+    });
+  });
+
+  await page.click('button', { timeout: 1000 });
+  expect(await page.evaluate('result')).toBe('Mousedown');
+});
+
 it('should not block programmatic events', async ({ page, server }) => {
   await page.goto(server.PREFIX + '/input/button.html');
   await page.$eval('button', button => {