diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 194ca71a6..1d20235cc 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ nav_order: 6
 
 ## main
 
+* Fix `Component.translate` raising `UncaughtThrowError` for keys missing from the sidecar translations, and `NoMethodError` for components without sidecar translations. It now falls back to the global translations, like the instance method does. Fix `translate` returning the `default:` value instead of an existing global translation.
+
+    *Andrii Furmanets*
+
 * Only recompile components when a template or a translation file changed, instead of before every request, when templates aren't cached. Pages render about twice as fast in development.
 
     *Clément Joubert*
diff --git a/lib/view_component/translatable.rb b/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
index 815a1325e..c4d532451 100644
--- a/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
+++ b/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,11 @@ def translate(key = nil, **options)
         locale = options.delete(:locale) || ::I18n.locale
         key = __vc_i18n_key(key, options.delete(:scope))
 
-        __vc_i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
+        if __vc_i18n_backend&.exists?(locale, key)
+          __vc_i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
+        else
+          ::I18n.translate(key, locale: locale, **options)
+        end
       end
 
       alias_method :t, :translate
@@ -102,17 +106,8 @@ def translate(key = nil, **options)
 
       __vc_html_escape_translation_options!(options) if as_html
 
-      if key.start_with?(__vc_i18n_scope + ".")
-        translated =
-          catch(:exception) do
-            __vc_i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
-          end
-
-        # Fallback to the global translations
-        if translated.is_a? ::I18n::MissingTranslation
-          return @view_context.translate(key, locale: locale, **options)
-        end
-
+      if __vc_i18n_backend.exists?(locale, key)
+        translated = __vc_i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
         translated = __vc_html_safe_translation(translated) if as_html
         translated
       else
diff --git a/test/sandbox/test/translatable_test.rb b/test/sandbox/test/translatable_test.rb
index bd1cdc0e8..806cf1caa 100644
--- a/test/sandbox/test/translatable_test.rb
+++ b/test/sandbox/test/translatable_test.rb
@@ -165,6 +165,32 @@ def test_translating_from_the_class
     assert_equal({sidecar: "This is coming from the sidecar"}, TranslatableComponent.translate(".from"))
   end
 
+  def test_translating_from_the_class_falls_back_to_global_translations
+    assert_equal "This is coming from Rails", TranslatableComponent.t("from.rails")
+    assert_equal "Relative key from Rails", TranslatableComponent.t(".relative_rails_key")
+    assert_equal "Translation missing: en.translatable_component.missing", TranslatableComponent.t(".missing")
+    assert_equal "Default", TranslatableComponent.t(".missing", default: "Default")
+
+    assert_raises(I18n::MissingTranslationData) do
+      TranslatableComponent.t(".missing", raise: true)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_translating_from_the_class_without_sidecar_translations
+    assert_equal "OH NO! (you shouldn't see me)", MyComponent.t(".message")
+    assert_equal "This is coming from Rails", MyComponent.translate("from.rails")
+  end
+
+  def test_default_does_not_shadow_global_translations
+    assert_equal "This is coming from Rails", TranslatableComponent.t("from.rails", default: "Default")
+    assert_equal "Relative key from Rails", TranslatableComponent.t(".relative_rails_key", default: "Default")
+    assert_equal "Default", TranslatableComponent.t(".missing", default: "Default")
+
+    assert_equal "This is coming from Rails", translate("from.rails", default: "Default")
+    assert_equal "Relative key from Rails", translate(".relative_rails_key", default: "Default")
+    assert_equal "Default", translate(".missing", default: "Default")
+  end
+
   def test_inheriting_and_overriding_translations
     render_inline(TranslatableSubclassComponent.new)