diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/core/__tests__/ResponderEventTarget-itest.js b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/core/__tests__/ResponderEventTarget-itest.js
index 605d90317e3f..5016c87f635e 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/core/__tests__/ResponderEventTarget-itest.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/core/__tests__/ResponderEventTarget-itest.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import '@react-native/fantom/src/setUpDefaultReactNativeEnvironment';
 import * as Fantom from '@react-native/fantom';
 import * as React from 'react';
 import {View} from 'react-native';
+import {ReactNativeFeatureFlags} from 'react-native/react-private-interface';
 
 // Helpers for common touch event payloads
 function touchStart(identifier: number = 0): {
@@ -132,6 +133,68 @@ describe('Responder System', () => {
     expect(onResponderRelease).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
+  // TODO(react/react#38006): run this with the flag on too once the synced
+  // renderer stops dropping events whose target is null.
+  (ReactNativeFeatureFlags.enableNativeEventTargetEventDispatching()
+    ? it.skip
+    : it)(
+    'releases the responder when the touched view unmounts before the touch ends',
+    () => {
+      const root = Fantom.createRoot();
+      const firstRef = React.createRef<React.ElementRef<typeof View>>();
+      const secondRef = React.createRef<React.ElementRef<typeof View>>();
+      const onFirstResponderGrant = jest.fn();
+      const onSecondResponderGrant = jest.fn();
+
+      Fantom.runTask(() => {
+        root.render(
+          <View
+            key="first"
+            ref={firstRef}
+            onStartShouldSetResponder={() => true}
+            onResponderGrant={onFirstResponderGrant}
+          />,
+        );
+      });
+
+      Fantom.dispatchNativeEvent(firstRef, 'onTouchStart', touchStart(), {
+        category: Fantom.NativeEventCategory.Discrete,
+      });
+
+      expect(onFirstResponderGrant).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+      // Queue the touch end without flushing it, then unmount the view, so the
+      // event reaches JS without a target.
+      Fantom.enqueueNativeEvent(firstRef, 'onTouchEnd', touchEnd(), {
+        category: Fantom.NativeEventCategory.Discrete,
+      });
+
+      Fantom.runTask(() => {
+        root.render(
+          <View
+            key="second"
+            ref={secondRef}
+            onStartShouldSetResponder={() => true}
+            onResponderGrant={onSecondResponderGrant}
+          />,
+        );
+      });
+
+      Fantom.flushAllNativeEvents();
+
+      // The responder was released, so the next touch is granted
+      Fantom.dispatchNativeEvent(secondRef, 'onTouchStart', touchStart(), {
+        category: Fantom.NativeEventCategory.Discrete,
+      });
+
+      expect(onSecondResponderGrant).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+      Fantom.dispatchNativeEvent(secondRef, 'onTouchEnd', touchEnd(), {
+        category: Fantom.NativeEventCategory.Discrete,
+      });
+    },
+  );
+
   it('dispatches responderTerminate on touch cancel', () => {
     const root = Fantom.createRoot();
     const ref = React.createRef<React.ElementRef<typeof View>>();
diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/ReactNativeResponder.js b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/ReactNativeResponder.js
index 1323f08c4a0a..b0db7a7cbd02 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/ReactNativeResponder.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/ReactNativeResponder.js
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ function isResponderRelevantTopLevelType(topLevelType: string): boolean {
  */
 export function processResponderEvent(
   topLevelType: string,
-  eventTarget: EventTarget | null,
+  eventTarget: ?EventTarget,
   nativeEvent: {[string]: unknown},
 ): void {
   // Fast path: if this event isn't one the responder system cares about and
diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/dispatchNativeEvent.js b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/dispatchNativeEvent.js
index 1ea15520f3dd..53d5d27dc861 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/dispatchNativeEvent.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/private/renderer/events/dispatchNativeEvent.js
@@ -37,17 +37,23 @@ import {
  * enableNativeEventTargetEventDispatching is enabled.
  */
 export default function dispatchNativeEvent(
-  target: EventTarget,
+  target: ?EventTarget,
   type: string,
   payload: {[string]: unknown},
 ): void {
   // $FlowFixMe[incompatible-type] The global is backed by this implementation.
-  const internalTarget = target as InternalEventTarget;
+  const internalTarget = target as ?InternalEventTarget;
 
   // Process responder events before normal event dispatch.
   processResponderEvent(type, internalTarget, payload);
 
   try {
+    // The target is missing when its view unmounted during the touch, so only
+    // the responder step above applies.
+    if (internalTarget == null) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Normal EventTarget dispatch
     const bubbleConfig = customBubblingEventTypes[type];
     const directConfig = customDirectEventTypes[type];