diff --git a/lib/Templating/Renderer/IncludeRenderer.php b/lib/Templating/Renderer/IncludeRenderer.php
index 8eb556161fb..d6f11f86c19 100644
--- a/lib/Templating/Renderer/IncludeRenderer.php
+++ b/lib/Templating/Renderer/IncludeRenderer.php
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public function render(mixed $include, array $params = [], bool $editmode = fals
             });
 
             // TODO is this enough for cache or should we disable caching completely?
-            if (method_exists($include, 'getUseTargetGroup') && $include->getUseTargetGroup()) {
+            if (is_object($include) && method_exists($include, 'getUseTargetGroup') && $include->getUseTargetGroup()) {
                 $cacheParams['target_group'] = $include->getUseTargetGroup();
             }