diff --git a/src/compiler/checker.ts b/src/compiler/checker.ts
index 5d57e9d202..145478693a 100644
--- a/src/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -8363,14 +8363,12 @@ namespace ts {
             checkGrammarJsxElement(node);
             checkJsxPreconditions(node);
 
-            // If we're compiling under --jsx react, the symbol 'React' should
-            // be marked as 'used' so we don't incorrectly elide its import. And if there
-            // is no 'React' symbol in scope, we should issue an error.
-            if (compilerOptions.jsx === JsxEmit.React) {
-                const reactSym = resolveName(node.tagName, "React", SymbolFlags.Value, Diagnostics.Cannot_find_name_0, "React");
-                if (reactSym) {
-                    getSymbolLinks(reactSym).referenced = true;
-                }
+            // The symbol 'React' should be marked as 'used' so we don't incorrectly elide its import. And if there
+            // is no 'React' symbol in scope when targeting React emit, we should issue an error.
+            const reactRefErr = compilerOptions.jsx === JsxEmit.React ? Diagnostics.Cannot_find_name_0 : undefined;
+            const reactSym = resolveName(node.tagName, "React", SymbolFlags.Value, reactRefErr, "React");
+            if (reactSym) {
+                getSymbolLinks(reactSym).referenced = true;
             }
 
             const targetAttributesType = getJsxElementAttributesType(node);
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/tsxPreserveEmit1.js b/tests/baselines/reference/tsxPreserveEmit1.js
index 7ac6c18ebc..6d795c946c 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/tsxPreserveEmit1.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/tsxPreserveEmit1.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module M {
 
 
 //// [test.jsx]
-define(["require", "exports", 'react-router'], function (require, exports, ReactRouter) {
+define(["require", "exports", 'react', 'react-router'], function (require, exports, React, ReactRouter) {
     "use strict";
     var Route = ReactRouter.Route;
     var routes1 = <Route />;