diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/map.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/map.test.tsx
index 305be0b0..b621f7ed 100644
--- a/src/components/__tests__/map.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/map.test.tsx
@@ -209,6 +209,42 @@ describe('map instance caching', () => {
     "map isn't recreated when unmounting and remounting with regular changed options"
   );
   test.todo('removed options are handled correctly');
+
+  test("doesn't crash when remounting with a broken cached map instance", async () => {
+    // simulates the case where the initial map-creation failed (e.g. the Maps
+    // JavaScript API didn't load correctly), leaving a cached map whose
+    // getDiv() doesn't return a usable DOM node. Remounting must not throw.
+    const center = {lat: 53.55, lng: 10.05};
+
+    const {unmount} = render(
+      <GoogleMap mapId={'broken-cache'} reuseMaps center={center} zoom={12} />,
+      {wrapper}
+    );
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId('map')).toBeInTheDocument());
+
+    // make the cached instance return a non-Node from getDiv()
+    const cachedMap = mockInstances.get(google.maps.Map).at(-1)!;
+    jest.mocked(cachedMap.getDiv).mockReturnValue(undefined as never);
+
+    unmount();
+    createMapSpy.mockReset();
+
+    expect(() =>
+      render(
+        <GoogleMap
+          mapId={'broken-cache'}
+          reuseMaps
+          center={center}
+          zoom={12}
+        />,
+        {wrapper}
+      )
+    ).not.toThrow();
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId('map')).toBeInTheDocument());
+    // a fresh map instance should have been created instead of reusing the broken one
+    expect(createMapSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
 
 describe('camera configuration', () => {
diff --git a/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts b/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
index b2b21e4c..1e221ee0 100644
--- a/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
+++ b/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
@@ -138,9 +138,21 @@ export function useMapInstance(
       let mapDiv: HTMLElement;
       let map: google.maps.Map;
 
-      if (reuseMaps && CachedMapStack.has(cacheKey)) {
-        map = CachedMapStack.pop(cacheKey) as google.maps.Map;
-        mapDiv = map.getDiv();
+      // a cached map can end up in a broken state (e.g. when the initial
+      // map-creation failed because the Maps JavaScript API didn't load
+      // correctly). In that case `getDiv()` doesn't return a usable DOM node,
+      // so we have to discard the cached instance instead of trying to reuse it.
+      const cachedMap =
+        reuseMaps && CachedMapStack.has(cacheKey)
+          ? (CachedMapStack.pop(cacheKey) as google.maps.Map)
+          : null;
+      const cachedMapDiv = cachedMap?.getDiv();
+      const reusedMap =
+        cachedMap && cachedMapDiv instanceof Node ? cachedMap : null;
+
+      if (reusedMap) {
+        map = reusedMap;
+        mapDiv = cachedMapDiv as HTMLElement;
 
         container.appendChild(mapDiv);
         map.setOptions(mapOptions);
@@ -151,6 +163,9 @@ export function useMapInstance(
         // the map.
         setTimeout(() => map.moveCamera({}), 0);
       } else {
+        // discard a broken cached instance so it doesn't get pushed back
+        if (cachedMap) google.maps.event.clearInstanceListeners(cachedMap);
+
         mapDiv = document.createElement('div');
         mapDiv.style.height = '100%';
         container.appendChild(mapDiv);