diff --git a/lib/miq_expression/field.rb b/lib/miq_expression/field.rb
index 6745f29c6e5..549f2f1ffcd 100644
--- a/lib/miq_expression/field.rb
+++ b/lib/miq_expression/field.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,12 @@ def self.is_field?(field)
     return false unless field.kind_of?(String)
     match = REGEX.match(field)
     return false unless match
-    model = match[:model_name].safe_constantize
+    model =
+      begin
+        match[:model_name].safe_constantize
+      rescue LoadError
+        nil
+      end
     return false unless model
     !!(model < ApplicationRecord)
   end
diff --git a/spec/lib/miq_expression_spec.rb b/spec/lib/miq_expression_spec.rb
index c0bdbc9954c..b7de9f84491 100644
--- a/spec/lib/miq_expression_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/miq_expression_spec.rb
@@ -190,6 +190,11 @@
       expect(sql).to eq("\"vms\".\"name\" = \"vms\".\"name\"")
     end
 
+    it "will handle values that look like they contain MiqExpression-encoded constants but cannot be loaded" do
+      sql, * = described_class.new("=" => {"field" => "Vm-name", "value" => "VM-name"}).to_sql
+      expect(sql).to eq(%q("vms"."name" = 'VM-name'))
+    end
+
     it "generates the SQL for a < expression" do
       sql, * = described_class.new("<" => {"field" => "Vm.hardware-cpu_sockets", "value" => "2"}).to_sql
       expect(sql).to eq("\"hardwares\".\"cpu_sockets\" < 2")