diff --git a/packages/form-js-playground/src/components/JSONEditor.js b/packages/form-js-playground/src/components/JSONEditor.js
index 49b22b33f..7d54ce9d7 100644
--- a/packages/form-js-playground/src/components/JSONEditor.js
+++ b/packages/form-js-playground/src/components/JSONEditor.js
@@ -101,12 +101,22 @@ export function JSONEditor(options = {}) {
 
   function createPlaceholderLinterExtension() {
     return linter((view) => {
+      if (!view.dom || !container || !document.body || !domClasses) {
+        return [];
+      }
+
       const placeholders = view.dom.querySelectorAll('.cm-placeholder');
-      if (placeholders.length > 0) {
-        domClasses(container, document.body).add(NO_LINT_CLS);
-      } else {
-        domClasses(container, document.body).remove(NO_LINT_CLS);
+
+      try {
+        if (placeholders.length > 0) {
+          domClasses(container, document.body).add(NO_LINT_CLS);
+        } else {
+          domClasses(container, document.body).remove(NO_LINT_CLS);
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.debug('Failed to update editor classes:', e);
       }
+
       return [];
     });
   }
diff --git a/packages/form-js-playground/test/spec/JSONEditor.spec.js b/packages/form-js-playground/test/spec/JSONEditor.spec.js
index 3f494cac8..373e1b75d 100644
--- a/packages/form-js-playground/test/spec/JSONEditor.spec.js
+++ b/packages/form-js-playground/test/spec/JSONEditor.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,19 @@ import { JSONEditor } from '../../src/components/JSONEditor';
 import { currentCompletions, startCompletion } from '@codemirror/autocomplete';
 
 describe('JSONEditor', function () {
+  let testContainer;
+
+  beforeEach(function () {
+    testContainer = document.createElement('div');
+    document.body.appendChild(testContainer);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(function () {
+    if (testContainer && testContainer.parentNode) {
+      testContainer.parentNode.removeChild(testContainer);
+    }
+  });
+
   describe('#setValue', function () {
     it('should accept external change', async function () {
       // given
@@ -287,6 +300,7 @@ describe('JSONEditor', function () {
       const variables = ['foobar', 'baz'];
 
       const editor = new JSONEditor();
+      editor.attachTo(testContainer);
       editor.setValue(initialValue);
       editor.setVariables(variables);
 
@@ -311,6 +325,8 @@ describe('JSONEditor', function () {
         expect(completionDisplayLabels).to.include('"foobar"');
         expect(completionDisplayLabels).to.include('"baz"');
       });
+
+      editor.destroy();
     });
 
     it('should suggest property completion after comma', async function () {
@@ -319,6 +335,7 @@ describe('JSONEditor', function () {
       const variables = ['foobar', 'baz'];
 
       const editor = new JSONEditor();
+      editor.attachTo(testContainer);
       editor.setValue(initialValue);
       editor.setVariables(variables);
 
@@ -343,6 +360,8 @@ describe('JSONEditor', function () {
         expect(completionDisplayLabels).to.include('"foobar"');
         expect(completionDisplayLabels).to.include('"baz"');
       });
+
+      editor.destroy();
     });
   });
 });