diff --git a/js/tooltip.js b/js/tooltip.js
index 250e48e5c9..943002199e 100644
--- a/js/tooltip.js
+++ b/js/tooltip.js
@@ -317,9 +317,11 @@
 
     function complete() {
       if (that.hoverState != 'in') $tip.detach()
-      that.$element
-        .removeAttr('aria-describedby')
-        .trigger('hidden.bs.' + that.type)
+      if (that.$element) { // TODO: Check whether guarding this code with this `if` is really necessary.
+        that.$element
+          .removeAttr('aria-describedby')
+          .trigger('hidden.bs.' + that.type)
+      }
       callback && callback()
     }
 
@@ -478,6 +480,7 @@
       that.$tip = null
       that.$arrow = null
       that.$viewport = null
+      that.$element = null
     })
   }