diff --git a/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/transformElement.spec.ts b/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/transformElement.spec.ts
index 17ee4724f4d..8a8d2394f91 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/transformElement.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-core/__tests__/transforms/transformElement.spec.ts
@@ -298,6 +298,26 @@ describe('compiler: element transform', () => {
     assert(`Portal`)
   })
 
+  test('should error on <Portal> element with no target', () => {
+    const onError = jest.fn()
+    parseWithElementTransform(`<portal foo="bar"><span /></portal>`, {
+      onError
+    })
+
+    expect(onError.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({
+      code: ErrorCodes.X_PORTAL_NO_TARGET
+    })
+  })
+
+  test('should not error on <Portal> element with bound target', () => {
+    const onError = jest.fn()
+    parseWithElementTransform(`<portal :target="bar"><span /></portal>`, {
+      onError
+    })
+
+    expect(onError).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   test('should handle <Suspense>', () => {
     function assert(tag: string, content: string, hasFallback?: boolean) {
       const { root, node } = parseWithElementTransform(
diff --git a/packages/compiler-core/src/errors.ts b/packages/compiler-core/src/errors.ts
index 3a9e3469ee6..ea964ba0791 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-core/src/errors.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-core/src/errors.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export const enum ErrorCodes {
   X_V_MODEL_MALFORMED_EXPRESSION,
   X_V_MODEL_ON_SCOPE_VARIABLE,
   X_INVALID_EXPRESSION,
+  X_PORTAL_NO_TARGET,
 
   // generic errors
   X_PREFIX_ID_NOT_SUPPORTED,
@@ -175,6 +176,7 @@ export const errorMessages: { [code: number]: string } = {
   [ErrorCodes.X_V_MODEL_MALFORMED_EXPRESSION]: `v-model value must be a valid JavaScript member expression.`,
   [ErrorCodes.X_V_MODEL_ON_SCOPE_VARIABLE]: `v-model cannot be used on v-for or v-slot scope variables because they are not writable.`,
   [ErrorCodes.X_INVALID_EXPRESSION]: `Invalid JavaScript expression.`,
+  [ErrorCodes.X_PORTAL_NO_TARGET]: `Portal requires a "target" prop.`,
 
   // generic errors
   [ErrorCodes.X_PREFIX_ID_NOT_SUPPORTED]: `"prefixIdentifiers" option is not supported in this build of compiler.`,
diff --git a/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/transformElement.ts b/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/transformElement.ts
index 2d09bf5681b..f0ae7fc1706 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/transformElement.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/transformElement.ts
@@ -125,6 +125,13 @@ export const transformElement: NodeTransform = (node, context) => {
         args.push(propsBuildResult.props)
       }
     }
+
+    if (node.tagType === ElementTypes.PORTAL && !findProp(node, 'target')) {
+      context.onError(
+        createCompilerError(ErrorCodes.X_PORTAL_NO_TARGET, node.loc)
+      )
+    }
+
     // children
     const hasChildren = node.children.length > 0
     if (hasChildren) {