diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTTVNavigationEventEmitter.m b/React/Modules/RCTTVNavigationEventEmitter.m
index 12d177584..bbc42e14f 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTTVNavigationEventEmitter.m
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTTVNavigationEventEmitter.m
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ RCT_EXPORT_MODULE()
 
 - (void)handleTVNavigationEventNotification:(NSNotification *)notif
 {
-  [self sendEventWithName:TVNavigationEventName body:notif.object];
+  if (self.bridge) {
+    [self sendEventWithName:TVNavigationEventName body:notif.object];
+  }
 }
 
 @end