diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevSettings.mm b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevSettings.mm
index 10930504894a4b..887a69c06c1b37 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevSettings.mm
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/CoreModules/RCTDevSettings.mm
@@ -158,6 +158,11 @@ + (BOOL)requiresMainQueueSetup
   return NO;
 }
 
+- (BOOL)_isBridgeMode
+{
+  return [self.bridge isKindOfClass:[RCTBridge class]];
+}
+
 - (instancetype)initWithDataSource:(id<RCTDevSettingsDataSource>)dataSource
 {
   if (self = [super init]) {
@@ -178,7 +183,7 @@ - (instancetype)initWithDataSource:(id<RCTDevSettingsDataSource>)dataSource
 - (void)initialize
 {
 #if RCT_DEV_SETTINGS_ENABLE_PACKAGER_CONNECTION
-  if (self.bridge) {
+  if ([self _isBridgeMode]) {
     RCTBridge *__weak weakBridge = self.bridge;
     _bridgeExecutorOverrideToken = [[RCTPackagerConnection sharedPackagerConnection]
         addNotificationHandler:^(id params) {
@@ -209,7 +214,7 @@ - (void)initialize
 #endif
 
 #if RCT_ENABLE_INSPECTOR
-  if (self.bridge) {
+  if ([self _isBridgeMode]) {
     // We need this dispatch to the main thread because the bridge is not yet
     // finished with its initialisation. By the time it relinquishes control of
     // the main thread, this operation can be performed.
@@ -250,7 +255,7 @@ - (void)invalidate
 {
   [super invalidate];
 #if RCT_DEV_SETTINGS_ENABLE_PACKAGER_CONNECTION
-  if (self.bridge) {
+  if ([self _isBridgeMode]) {
     [[RCTPackagerConnection sharedPackagerConnection] removeHandler:_bridgeExecutorOverrideToken];
   }
 
@@ -281,7 +286,7 @@ - (id)settingForKey:(NSString *)key
 - (BOOL)isDeviceDebuggingAvailable
 {
 #if RCT_ENABLE_INSPECTOR
-  if (self.bridge) {
+  if ([self _isBridgeMode]) {
     return self.bridge.isInspectable;
   } else {
     return self.isInspectable;