diff --git a/js/src/common/Component.ts b/js/src/common/Component.ts
index d5ebd1dab..16a9d18dc 100644
--- a/js/src/common/Component.ts
+++ b/js/src/common/Component.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export default abstract class Component<T extends ComponentAttrs = ComponentAttr
    * @returns the jQuery object for the DOM node
    * @final
    */
-  protected $(selector: string): JQuery {
+  protected $(selector?: string): JQuery {
     const $element = $(this.element) as JQuery<HTMLElement>;
 
     return selector ? $element.find(selector) : $element;