diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/table.py b/python/python/lancedb/table.py
index c7de4161d..5eea55760 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/table.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/table.py
@@ -5333,6 +5333,11 @@ def has_nan_values(arr: Union[pa.ListArray, pa.ChunkedArray]) -> pa.BooleanArray
     else:
         values_has_nan = pc.is_nan(values)
     values_indices = pc.list_parent_indices(arr)
+    if arr.null_count:
+        # Match flatten(), which excludes child spans under null parent lists.
+        values_indices = pc.filter(
+            values_indices, pc.take(pc.is_valid(arr), values_indices)
+        )
     has_nan_indices = pc.unique(pc.filter(values_indices, values_has_nan))
     indices = pa.array(range(len(arr)), type=pa.uint32())
     return pc.is_in(indices, has_nan_indices)
diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_util.py b/python/python/tests/test_util.py
index 4671109b8..4fb16bb31 100644
--- a/python/python/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_util.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from lancedb.table import (
     _infer_target_schema,
     _merge_metadata,
     _sanitize_data,
+    has_nan_values,
     sanitize_create_table,
 )
 import pyarrow as pa
@@ -489,6 +490,20 @@ def test_handle_bad_vectors_nan(on_bad_vectors):
     assert output["vector"].combine_chunks() == expected
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("dtype", [pa.float16(), pa.float32(), pa.float64()])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("large", [False, True])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("chunked", [False, True])
+def test_has_nan_values_skips_hidden_children_of_null_lists(dtype, large, chunked):
+    array_type = pa.LargeListArray if large else pa.ListArray
+    values = pa.array([float("nan"), None, float("nan"), 3.0, 4.0, 5.0], type=dtype)
+    arr = array_type.from_arrays(
+        [0, 2, 4, 6], values, mask=pa.array([True, False, False])
+    )
+    if chunked:
+        arr = pa.chunked_array([arr.slice(0, 2), arr.slice(2, 1)])
+    assert has_nan_values(arr).to_pylist() == [False, True, False]
+
+
 def test_handle_bad_vectors_noop():
     # ChunkedArray should be preserved as-is
     vector = pa.chunked_array(