diff --git a/src/core/public/core_system.test.ts b/src/core/public/core_system.test.ts
index 1ee41fe64418e..94fa74f4bd861 100644
--- a/src/core/public/core_system.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/core_system.test.ts
@@ -429,15 +429,14 @@ describe('Notifications targetDomElement', () => {
       rootDomElement,
     });
 
-    let targetDomElementParentInStart: HTMLElement | null;
+    let targetDomElementInStart: HTMLElement | null;
     MockNotificationsService.start.mockImplementation(({ targetDomElement }): any => {
-      expect(targetDomElement.parentElement).not.toBeNull();
-      targetDomElementParentInStart = targetDomElement.parentElement;
+      targetDomElementInStart = targetDomElement;
     });
 
     // Starting the core system should pass the targetDomElement as a child of the rootDomElement
     await core.setup();
     await core.start();
-    expect(targetDomElementParentInStart!).toBe(rootDomElement);
+    expect(targetDomElementInStart!.parentElement).toBe(rootDomElement);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/core/public/core_system.ts b/src/core/public/core_system.ts
index 97bd49416f705..be69cacdd271a 100644
--- a/src/core/public/core_system.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/core_system.ts
@@ -222,13 +222,6 @@ export class CoreSystem {
       const notificationsTargetDomElement = document.createElement('div');
       const overlayTargetDomElement = document.createElement('div');
 
-      // ensure the rootDomElement is empty
-      this.rootDomElement.textContent = '';
-      this.rootDomElement.classList.add('coreSystemRootDomElement');
-      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(coreUiTargetDomElement);
-      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(notificationsTargetDomElement);
-      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(overlayTargetDomElement);
-
       const overlays = this.overlay.start({
         i18n,
         targetDomElement: overlayTargetDomElement,
@@ -276,6 +269,14 @@ export class CoreSystem {
       };
 
       const plugins = await this.plugins.start(core);
+
+      // ensure the rootDomElement is empty
+      this.rootDomElement.textContent = '';
+      this.rootDomElement.classList.add('coreSystemRootDomElement');
+      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(coreUiTargetDomElement);
+      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(notificationsTargetDomElement);
+      this.rootDomElement.appendChild(overlayTargetDomElement);
+
       const rendering = this.rendering.start({
         application,
         chrome,