diff --git a/.changeset/docs-ref-document-timing.md b/.changeset/docs-ref-document-timing.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e67897ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/docs-ref-document-timing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"solid-js": patch
+---
+
+The DOM docs and cheatsheet narrow the ref-timing note: inside a ref, `el.ownerDocument.defaultView` is `null` only when the element's template contains no custom element; a template with one is imported into the live document as a whole.
diff --git a/documentation/solid-2.0/07-dom.md b/documentation/solid-2.0/07-dom.md
index c0108fdfe..bdd88a7c6 100644
--- a/documentation/solid-2.0/07-dom.md
+++ b/documentation/solid-2.0/07-dom.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ let el;
 <div ref={[node => (el = node), autofocus]} />; // assigned
 ```
 
-A ref runs before the element is inserted into the page. At that point `el.isConnected` is `false`, and `el.ownerDocument` is the inert document of the template the element was cloned from, so `el.ownerDocument.defaultView` is `null`. Don't reach the window or document through the element inside a ref: use the global `window`/`document`, or do work that needs the attached element (measuring, reading computed styles) in `onSettled`.
+A ref runs before the element is inserted into the page, so `el.isConnected` is `false`. Its document depends on the rest of the template: an element cloned from a template with no custom element still belongs to that template's inert document, so `el.ownerDocument.defaultView` is `null`, while a template containing a custom element is imported into the live document as a whole. Don't reach the window or document through the element inside a ref: use the global `window`/`document`, or do work that needs the attached element (measuring, reading computed styles) in `onSettled`.
 
 #### Two-phase directive factories (owned setup, unowned application)
 
diff --git a/packages/solid/CHEATSHEET.md b/packages/solid/CHEATSHEET.md
index 62d74231b..b74fe2678 100644
--- a/packages/solid/CHEATSHEET.md
+++ b/packages/solid/CHEATSHEET.md
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ hydrate(() => <App />, document.getElementById("root")!);
 <button ref={[autofocus, tooltip({ content: "Save" })]} />
 ```
 
-A ref runs before the element is attached: `el.isConnected` is `false` and `el.ownerDocument.defaultView` is `null`. Use the global `window`/`document`, or do layout-dependent work in `onSettled`.
+A ref runs before the element is attached: `el.isConnected` is `false`, and unless its template contains a custom element, `el.ownerDocument.defaultView` is `null`. Use the global `window`/`document`, or do layout-dependent work in `onSettled`.
 
 Two-phase directive (recommended):