diff --git a/pkg/sql/opt/exec/execbuilder/testdata/explain_gist b/pkg/sql/opt/exec/execbuilder/testdata/explain_gist
index 0aaf5aa0d65d..8da59387f74b 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/opt/exec/execbuilder/testdata/explain_gist
+++ b/pkg/sql/opt/exec/execbuilder/testdata/explain_gist
@@ -171,3 +171,21 @@ SELECT crdb_internal.decode_plan_gist('AgGSARIAAwlAsJ8BE5IBAhcGFg==')
           table: ?@?
           spans: 1+ spans
           limit
+
+# Regression test for #108979. Correctly decode inverted filters.
+query T nosort
+SELECT crdb_internal.decode_plan_gist('AgGwAgQAgQIAAgAEBQITsAICAxgGDA==')
+----
+• top-k
+│ order
+│
+└── • filter
+    │
+    └── • index join
+        │ table: ?@?
+        │
+        └── • inverted filter
+            │
+            └── • scan
+                  table: ?@?
+                  spans: 1+ spans
diff --git a/pkg/sql/opt/exec/explain/emit.go b/pkg/sql/opt/exec/explain/emit.go
index 6702102c13da..b24520ed5194 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/opt/exec/explain/emit.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/opt/exec/explain/emit.go
@@ -780,8 +780,12 @@ func (e *emitter) emitNodeAttributes(n *Node) error {
 
 	case invertedFilterOp:
 		a := n.args.(*invertedFilterArgs)
-		ob.Attr("inverted column", a.Input.Columns()[a.InvColumn].Name)
-		ob.Attr("num spans", len(a.InvFilter.SpansToRead))
+		if a.InvColumn != 0 {
+			ob.Attr("inverted column", a.Input.Columns()[a.InvColumn].Name)
+		}
+		if a.InvFilter != nil && len(a.InvFilter.SpansToRead) > 0 {
+			ob.Attr("num spans", len(a.InvFilter.SpansToRead))
+		}
 
 	case invertedJoinOp:
 		a := n.args.(*invertedJoinArgs)