diff --git a/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php b/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
index dced990fcdd0f..44b3db0dac6ce 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
@@ -236,6 +236,10 @@ public function update_item_permissions_check( $request ) {
 	public function update_item( $request ) {
 		global $wp_widget_factory;
 
+		// Calling wp_get_sidebars_widgets() here is a safe fix for https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/33335
+		// @TODO: Remove this after WP 5.8 RC1 in favor of updating retrieve_widgets and wp_set_sidebars_widgets
+		wp_get_sidebars_widgets();
+
 		retrieve_widgets();
 
 		$widget_id  = $request['id'];
@@ -300,6 +304,10 @@ public function delete_item_permissions_check( $request ) {
 	public function delete_item( $request ) {
 		global $wp_widget_factory, $wp_registered_widget_updates;
 
+		// Calling wp_get_sidebars_widgets() here is a safe fix for https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/33335
+		// @TODO: Remove this after WP 5.8 RC1 in favor of updating retrieve_widgets and wp_set_sidebars_widgets
+		wp_get_sidebars_widgets();
+
 		retrieve_widgets();
 
 		$widget_id  = $request['id'];