diff --git a/doc/reference/hooks.md b/doc/reference/hooks.md
index ed9797fc..e486bf0b 100644
--- a/doc/reference/hooks.md
+++ b/doc/reference/hooks.md
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ class Parent extends Component {
     // here, if component is mounted, refs are active:
     // - this.divRef.el is the div HTMLElement
     // - this.subRef.comp is the instance of the sub component
+    // - this.subRef.el is the root HTML node of the sub component (i.e. this.subRef.comp.el)
   }
 }
 ```
@@ -297,8 +298,11 @@ class Parent extends Component {
 As shown by the example above, html elements are accessed by using the `el`
 key, and components references are accessed with `comp`.
 
-Note: if used on a component, the reference will be set in the `refs`
-variable between `willPatch` and `patched`.
+Notes:
+
+- if used on a component, the reference will be set in the `refs`
+variable between `willPatch` and `patched`,
+- on a component, accessing `ref.el` will get the root node of the component.
 
 The `t-ref` directive also accepts dynamic values with string interpolation
 (like the [`t-attf-`](qweb.md#dynamic-attributes) and
diff --git a/src/hooks.ts b/src/hooks.ts
index b8145e19..99188b89 100644
--- a/src/hooks.ts
+++ b/src/hooks.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,12 @@ export function useRef(name: string): Ref {
   return {
     get el(): HTMLElement | null {
       const val = __owl__.refs && __owl__.refs[name];
-      return val instanceof HTMLElement ? val : null;
+      if (val instanceof HTMLElement) {
+        return val;
+      } else if (val instanceof Component) {
+        return val.el;
+      }
+      return null;
     },
     get comp(): Component<any, any> | null {
       const val = __owl__.refs && __owl__.refs[name];
diff --git a/tests/component/component.test.ts b/tests/component/component.test.ts
index d3b67687..c7acf00e 100644
--- a/tests/component/component.test.ts
+++ b/tests/component/component.test.ts
@@ -1078,94 +1078,6 @@ describe("composition", () => {
     console.error = consoleError;
   });
 
-  test("t-refs on widget are components", async () => {
-    class WidgetC extends Widget {
-      static template = xml`<div>Hello<WidgetB t-ref="mywidgetb" /></div>`;
-      static components = { WidgetB };
-      widget = useRef("mywidgetb");
-    }
-
-    const widget = new WidgetC();
-    await widget.mount(fixture);
-    expect(widget.widget.comp).toBeInstanceOf(WidgetB);
-  });
-
-  test("t-refs are bound at proper timing", async () => {
-    expect.assertions(2);
-    class ParentWidget extends Widget {
-      static template = xml`
-        <div>
-          <t t-foreach="state.list" t-as="elem" t-ref="child" t-key="elem" t-component="Widget"/>
-        </div>
-      `;
-      static components = { Widget };
-      state = useState({ list: <any>[] });
-      child = useRef("child");
-      willPatch() {
-        expect(this.child.comp).toBeNull();
-      }
-      patched() {
-        expect(this.child.comp).not.toBeNull();
-      }
-    }
-
-    const parent = new ParentWidget();
-    await parent.mount(fixture);
-    parent.state.list.push(1);
-    await nextTick();
-  });
-
-  test("t-refs are bound at proper timing (2)", async () => {
-    expect.assertions(10);
-    env.qweb.addTemplate(
-      "ParentWidget",
-      `
-        <div>
-          <t t-if="state.child1" t-ref="child1" t-component="Widget"/>
-          <t t-if="state.child2" t-ref="child2" t-component="Widget"/>
-        </div>`
-    );
-    class ParentWidget extends Widget {
-      static components = { Widget };
-      state = useState({ child1: true, child2: false });
-      child1 = useRef("child1");
-      child2 = useRef("child2");
-      count = 0;
-      mounted() {
-        expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
-        expect(this.child2.comp).toBeNull();
-      }
-      willPatch() {
-        if (this.count === 0) {
-          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
-          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeNull();
-        }
-        if (this.count === 1) {
-          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
-          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
-        }
-      }
-      patched() {
-        if (this.count === 0) {
-          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
-          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
-        }
-        if (this.count === 1) {
-          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeNull();
-          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
-        }
-        this.count++;
-      }
-    }
-
-    const parent = new ParentWidget();
-    await parent.mount(fixture);
-    parent.state.child2 = true;
-    await nextTick();
-    parent.state.child1 = false;
-    await nextTick();
-  });
-
   test("modifying a sub widget", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate("ParentWidget", `<div><t t-component="Counter"/></div>`);
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
diff --git a/tests/hooks.test.ts b/tests/hooks.test.ts
index e8b9edc8..bc39bb87 100644
--- a/tests/hooks.test.ts
+++ b/tests/hooks.test.ts
@@ -228,8 +228,11 @@ describe("hooks", () => {
       }
     }
     const counter = new Counter();
+    expect(counter.button.el).toBe(null);
     await counter.mount(fixture);
     expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div><button>0</button></div>");
+    expect(counter.button.el).not.toBe(null);
+    expect(counter.button.el).toBe(fixture.querySelector("button"));
     counter.increment();
     await nextTick();
     expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div><button>1</button></div>");
@@ -256,6 +259,104 @@ describe("hooks", () => {
     expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div></div>");
   });
 
+  test("t-refs on widget are components", async () => {
+    class WidgetB extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`<div>b</div>`;
+    }
+    class WidgetC extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`<div class="outer-div">Hello<WidgetB t-ref="mywidgetb" /></div>`;
+      static components = { WidgetB };
+      ref = useRef("mywidgetb");
+    }
+
+    const widget = new WidgetC();
+    expect(widget.ref.comp).toBe(null);
+    expect(widget.ref.el).toBe(null);
+    await widget.mount(fixture);
+    expect(widget.ref.comp).toBeInstanceOf(WidgetB);
+    expect(widget.ref.el).toEqual(fixture.querySelector(".outer-div > div"));
+  });
+
+  test("t-refs are bound at proper timing", async () => {
+    expect.assertions(2);
+    class Widget extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`<div>widget</div>`;
+    }
+
+    class ParentWidget extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`
+        <div>
+          <t t-foreach="state.list" t-as="elem" t-ref="child" t-key="elem" t-component="Widget"/>
+        </div>
+      `;
+      static components = { Widget };
+      state = useState({ list: <any>[] });
+      child = useRef("child");
+      willPatch() {
+        expect(this.child.comp).toBeNull();
+      }
+      patched() {
+        expect(this.child.comp).not.toBeNull();
+      }
+    }
+
+    const parent = new ParentWidget();
+    await parent.mount(fixture);
+    parent.state.list.push(1);
+    await nextTick();
+  });
+
+  test("t-refs are bound at proper timing (2)", async () => {
+    expect.assertions(10);
+    class Widget extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`<div>widget</div>`;
+    }
+    class ParentWidget extends Component<any, any> {
+      static template = xml`
+        <div>
+          <t t-if="state.child1" t-ref="child1" t-component="Widget"/>
+          <t t-if="state.child2" t-ref="child2" t-component="Widget"/>
+        </div>`;
+      static components = { Widget };
+      state = useState({ child1: true, child2: false });
+      child1 = useRef("child1");
+      child2 = useRef("child2");
+      count = 0;
+      mounted() {
+        expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
+        expect(this.child2.comp).toBeNull();
+      }
+      willPatch() {
+        if (this.count === 0) {
+          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
+          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeNull();
+        }
+        if (this.count === 1) {
+          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
+          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
+        }
+      }
+      patched() {
+        if (this.count === 0) {
+          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeDefined();
+          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
+        }
+        if (this.count === 1) {
+          expect(this.child1.comp).toBeNull();
+          expect(this.child2.comp).toBeDefined();
+        }
+        this.count++;
+      }
+    }
+
+    const parent = new ParentWidget();
+    await parent.mount(fixture);
+    parent.state.child2 = true;
+    await nextTick();
+    parent.state.child1 = false;
+    await nextTick();
+  });
+
   test("can use onPatched, onWillPatch", async () => {
     const steps: string[] = [];
     function useMyHook() {