diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/navigation/IonTabs.tsx b/packages/react/src/components/navigation/IonTabs.tsx
index c76b4f38a80..a7a8a250bf2 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/navigation/IonTabs.tsx
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/navigation/IonTabs.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ interface Props extends LocalJSX.IonTabs {
 export const IonTabs = /*@__PURE__*/ (() =>
   class extends React.Component<Props> {
     context!: React.ContextType<typeof NavContext>;
+    /**
+     * `routerOutletRef` allows users to add a `ref` to `IonRouterOutlet`.
+     * Without this, `ref.current` will be `undefined` in the user's app,
+     * breaking their ability to access the `IonRouterOutlet` instance.
+     * Do not remove this ref.
+     */
     routerOutletRef: React.Ref<HTMLIonRouterOutletElement> = React.createRef();
     selectTabHandler?: (tag: string) => boolean;
     tabBarRef = React.createRef<any>();