diff --git a/packages/core/src/dom_components/model/ModelResolverWatcher.ts b/packages/core/src/dom_components/model/ModelResolverWatcher.ts
index 36ba59f84..2f9ad8848 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dom_components/model/ModelResolverWatcher.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dom_components/model/ModelResolverWatcher.ts
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ export class ModelResolverWatcher<T extends ObjectHash> {
 
   private applyImportPolicy(values: ObjectAny | undefined, options: DataWatchersOptions = {}) {
     const { parsedImportSource } = options;
-    const dataBindingImportPolicy = options.dataBindingImportPolicy ?? this.em.DataSources.config.dataBindingImportPolicy;
+    const dataBindingImportPolicy =
+      options.dataBindingImportPolicy ?? this.em?.DataSources.config.dataBindingImportPolicy;
 
     if (!values || !parsedImportSource || dataBindingImportPolicy === 'overwrite') return values;