diff --git a/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts b/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
index 3c8d4b8e92d..9c07ccdc612 100644
--- a/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
+++ b/packages/@ember/-internals/routing/lib/services/router.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ export default class RouterService extends Service {
     return (this[ROUTER] = router);
   }
 
+  willDestroy() {
+    super.willDestroy(...arguments);
+
+    this[ROUTER] = null;
+  }
+
   /**
      Transition the application into another route. The route may
      be either a single route or route path: