diff --git a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/value.rs b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/value.rs
index 109f1a441e..c05931d194 100644
--- a/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-explore/src/nu_common/value.rs
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn record_lookup_value(item: &Value, header: &str) -> Value {
 
             item.clone()
                 .follow_cell_path(&[path], false)
-                .unwrap_or_else(|_| item.clone())
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| unknown_error_value())
         }
         item => item.clone(),
     }
@@ -220,3 +220,7 @@ pub fn map_into_value(hm: HashMap<String, Value>) -> Value {
 pub fn nu_str<S: AsRef<str>>(s: S) -> Value {
     Value::string(s.as_ref().to_owned(), NuSpan::unknown())
 }
+
+fn unknown_error_value() -> Value {
+    Value::string(String::from("❎"), NuSpan::unknown())
+}