diff --git a/integration/test_form_submit.py b/integration/test_form_submit.py
index f58781cfd6a..2cddfb32c49 100644
--- a/integration/test_form_submit.py
+++ b/integration/test_form_submit.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ def index():
                     rx.radio_group(["option1", "option2"], id="radio_input"),
                     rx.select(["option1", "option2"], id="select_input"),
                     rx.text_area(id="text_area_input"),
+                    rx.input(
+                        id="debounce_input",
+                        debounce_timeout=0,
+                        on_change=rx.console_log,
+                    ),
                     rx.button("Submit", type_="submit"),
                 ),
                 on_submit=FormState.form_submit,
@@ -119,6 +124,9 @@ def test_submit(driver, form_submit: AppHarness):
     textarea_input = driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "chakra-textarea")
     textarea_input.send_keys("Some", Keys.ENTER, "Text")
 
+    debounce_input = driver.find_element(By.ID, "debounce_input")
+    debounce_input.send_keys("bar baz")
+
     time.sleep(1)
 
     submit_input = driver.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "chakra-button")
@@ -139,3 +147,4 @@ def test_submit(driver, form_submit: AppHarness):
     assert backend_state.form_data["radio_input"] == "option2"
     assert backend_state.form_data["select_input"] == "option1"
     assert backend_state.form_data["text_area_input"] == "Some\nText"
+    assert backend_state.form_data["debounce_input"] == "bar baz"
diff --git a/reflex/components/forms/debounce.py b/reflex/components/forms/debounce.py
index 70d87da4fb8..6fde2c6f050 100644
--- a/reflex/components/forms/debounce.py
+++ b/reflex/components/forms/debounce.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def _render(self) -> Tag:
 
         Raises:
             RuntimeError: unless exactly one child element is provided.
+            ValueError: if the child element does not have an on_change handler.
         """
         child, props = _collect_first_child_and_props(self)
         if isinstance(child, type(self)) or len(self.children) > 1:
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ def _render(self) -> Tag:
                 "Provide a single child for DebounceInput, such as rx.input() or "
                 "rx.text_area()",
             )
+        if "on_change" not in child.event_triggers:
+            raise ValueError("DebounceInput child requires an on_change handler")
+        child_ref = child.get_ref()
+        if child_ref and not props.get("ref"):
+            props["input_ref"] = Var.create(child_ref, is_local=False)
         self.children = []
         tag = super()._render()
         tag.add_props(