diff --git a/src/modules/esl-alert/core/esl-alert.ts b/src/modules/esl-alert/core/esl-alert.ts
index a62c64e9d..9db24a3bd 100644
--- a/src/modules/esl-alert/core/esl-alert.ts
+++ b/src/modules/esl-alert/core/esl-alert.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ export class ESLAlert extends ESLToggleable {
   static is = 'esl-alert';
   static eventNs = 'esl:alert';
 
+  static get observedAttributes() { return ['target']; }
+
   static defaultConfig: AlertActionParams = {
     hideDelay: 2500
   };
@@ -46,6 +48,13 @@ export class ESLAlert extends ESLToggleable {
     return Object.assign({}, type.defaultConfig, this.defaultParams || {}, params || {});
   }
 
+  protected attributeChangedCallback(attrName: string, oldVal: string, newVal: string) {
+    if (!this.connected) return;
+    if (attrName === 'target') {
+      this.$target = TraversingQuery.first(this.target) as EventTarget;
+    }
+  }
+
   protected connectedCallback() {
     super.connectedCallback();
     this.render();
@@ -90,8 +99,8 @@ export class ESLAlert extends ESLToggleable {
   }
 
   protected onShow(params: AlertActionParams) {
+    CSSUtil.addCls(this, params.cls);
     if (params.text || params.html) {
-      CSSUtil.addCls(this, params.cls);
       if (params.text) {
         this.$text.textContent = params.text;
       } else if (params.html) {