When creating an Element with a ref from inside of a constructor an error is thrown in production mode, but not in dev mode.

Here is a minimal sample:
https://jsfiddle.net/84v837e9/35/

An error, "Only a ReactOwner can have refs", should happen in dev and production modes.

This is happening in React 15.4
return !!(Component.prototype && Component.prototype.isReactComponent);
}
function isPureComponent(Component) {
  return !!(Component.prototype && Component.prototype.isPureReactComponent);
}
function measureLifeCyclePerf(fn, debugID, timerType) {
  if (debugID === 0) {
    
    
    
    return fn();
  }
  ReactInstrumentation.debugTool.onBeginLifeCycleTimer(debugID, timerType);
  try {
    return fn();
  } finally {
    ReactInstrumentation.debugTool.onEndLifeCycleTimer(debugID, timerType);
  }
}
/**
 * ------------------ The Life-Cycle of a Composite Component ------------------
 *
 * - constructor: Initialization of state. The instance is now retained.
 *   - componentWillMount
 *   - render