diff --git a/packages/runtime-core/src/createRenderer.ts b/packages/runtime-core/src/createRenderer.ts
index 2c836071b..595b187ca 100644
--- a/packages/runtime-core/src/createRenderer.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime-core/src/createRenderer.ts
@@ -503,7 +503,11 @@ export function createRenderer<
         patch(
           oldVNode,
           dynamicChildren[i],
-          hostParentNode(oldVNode.el!)!,
+          // in the case of a Fragment, we need to provide the actual parent
+          // of the Fragment itself so it can move its children. In other cases,
+          // the parent container is not actually used so we just pass the
+          // block element here to avoid a DOM parentNode call.
+          oldVNode.type === Fragment ? hostParentNode(oldVNode.el!)! : el,
           null,
           parentComponent,
           parentSuspense,