diff --git a/core/src/utils/gesture/pointer-events.ts b/core/src/utils/gesture/pointer-events.ts
index 07ef6f61e3..85ec57a253 100644
--- a/core/src/utils/gesture/pointer-events.ts
+++ b/core/src/utils/gesture/pointer-events.ts
@@ -30,11 +30,21 @@ export const createPointerEvents = (
     if (!rmTouchMove && pointerMove) {
       rmTouchMove = addEventListener(el, 'touchmove', pointerMove, options);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Events are dispatched on the element that is tapped and bubble up to
+     * the reference element in the gesture. In the event that the element this
+     * event was first dispatched on is removed from the DOM, the event will no
+     * longer bubble up to our reference element. This leaves the gesture in an
+     * unusable state. To account for this, the touchend and touchcancel listeners
+     * should be added to the event target so that they still fire even if the target
+     * is removed from the DOM.
+     */
     if (!rmTouchEnd) {
-      rmTouchEnd = addEventListener(el, 'touchend', handleTouchEnd, options);
+      rmTouchEnd = addEventListener(ev.target, 'touchend', handleTouchEnd, options);
     }
     if (!rmTouchCancel) {
-      rmTouchCancel = addEventListener(el, 'touchcancel', handleTouchEnd, options);
+      rmTouchCancel = addEventListener(ev.target, 'touchcancel', handleTouchEnd, options);
     }
   };