diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/util.py b/python/python/lancedb/util.py
index dbc52bff6..3cf5460a5 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/util.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/util.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import binascii
 import functools
 import importlib
+import math
 import os
 import pathlib
 import warnings
@@ -351,6 +352,13 @@ def _(value: int):
 
 @value_to_sql.register(float)
 def _(value: float):
+    # str() gives "nan" / "inf", which SQL would read as column names.
+    if math.isnan(value):
+        return "CAST('NaN' AS DOUBLE)"
+    if math.isinf(value):
+        return (
+            "CAST('Infinity' AS DOUBLE)" if value > 0 else "CAST('-Infinity' AS DOUBLE)"
+        )
     return str(value)
 
 
diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_util.py b/python/python/tests/test_util.py
index 29cfd7f0b..d9c574eb9 100644
--- a/python/python/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_util.py
@@ -213,6 +213,35 @@ def test_value_to_sql_numpy_scalars():
     assert value_to_sql(np.bool_(False)) == "FALSE"
 
 
+def test_value_to_sql_nan_and_infinity(tmp_path):
+    # str(float("nan")) is "nan", which SQL reads as a column named nan, so
+    # table.update(values={"x": float("nan")}) failed with "No field named nan".
+    import math
+
+    import numpy as np
+
+    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
+    table = db.create_table(
+        "test",
+        pa.table(
+            {
+                "id": [1, 2, 3, 4],
+                "f64": [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0],
+                "f32": pa.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0], pa.float32()),
+            }
+        ),
+    )
+    table.update(where="id = 1", values={"f64": float("nan"), "f32": np.nan})
+    table.update(where="id = 2", values={"f64": math.inf, "f32": np.float32("inf")})
+    table.update(where="id = 3", values={"f64": -math.inf, "f32": -math.inf})
+
+    rows = {row["id"]: row for row in table.to_arrow().to_pylist()}
+    assert math.isnan(rows[1]["f64"]) and math.isnan(rows[1]["f32"])
+    assert rows[2]["f64"] == math.inf and rows[2]["f32"] == math.inf
+    assert rows[3]["f64"] == -math.inf and rows[3]["f32"] == -math.inf
+    assert rows[4]["f64"] == 4.0 and rows[4]["f32"] == 4.0
+
+
 def test_append_vector_columns():
     registry = EmbeddingFunctionRegistry.get_instance()
     registry.register("test")(MockTextEmbeddingFunction)