diff --git a/src/Controls/src/Core/Compatibility/Handlers/TabbedPage/iOS/TabbedRenderer.cs b/src/Controls/src/Core/Compatibility/Handlers/TabbedPage/iOS/TabbedRenderer.cs
index 632e8e1a2461..6c6ad24224c0 100644
--- a/src/Controls/src/Core/Compatibility/Handlers/TabbedPage/iOS/TabbedRenderer.cs
+++ b/src/Controls/src/Core/Compatibility/Handlers/TabbedPage/iOS/TabbedRenderer.cs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ protected TabbedPage Tabbed
 			get { return (TabbedPage)Element; }
 		}
 
-		public VisualElement Element => _viewHandlerWrapper.Element ?? _element?.GetTargetOrDefault();
+		public VisualElement Element => _viewHandlerWrapper?.Element ?? _element?.GetTargetOrDefault();
 
 		public event EventHandler<VisualElementChangedEventArgs> ElementChanged;
 
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ public override void ViewDidLayoutSubviews()
 		{
 			base.ViewDidLayoutSubviews();
 
+			// On iPadOS 26.1+, ViewDidLayoutSubviews can be called during UITabBarController construction
+			// in narrow viewports (< 667 points) before Element is set. Guard against this.
 			if (Element is IView view)
 				view.Arrange(View.Bounds.ToRectangle());
 		}