diff --git a/packages/core/src/h.ts b/packages/core/src/h.ts
index 86ab1846..b9b43b2b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/h.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/h.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ export const h = ((tag: ElementType, data?: any, children?: any): VNode => {
 
   // if value is observable, create a clone of original
   // so that we can normalize its class/style
+  // since this guard is only placed here, this means any direct createXXXVnode
+  // functions only accept fresh data objects.
   if (isObservable(data)) {
     data = Object.assign({}, data)
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/vdom.ts b/packages/core/src/vdom.ts
index 7ebcb600..6d7b5525 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/vdom.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/vdom.ts
@@ -217,12 +217,11 @@ export function createComponentVNode(
       if (isFunction(children)) {
         // function as children
         slots = { default: children }
-      } else if (isArray(children) || (children as any)._isVNode) {
-        // direct vnode children
-        slots = { default: () => children }
-      } else if (isObject(children)) {
+      } else if (isObject(children) && !(children as any)._isVNode) {
         // slot object as children
         slots = children
+      } else {
+        slots = { default: () => children }
       }
       slots = normalizeSlots(slots)
     }