diff --git a/compiler/optimizer/optimizer.go b/compiler/optimizer/optimizer.go
index ebbc6f27e..a6c8e198d 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizer/optimizer.go
+++ b/compiler/optimizer/optimizer.go
@@ -594,15 +594,12 @@ func pullupExpr(alias string, expr dag.Expr) (dag.Expr, bool) {
 	}
 	var c dag.Expr
 	var this *dag.ThisExpr
-	for _, e := range []dag.Expr{e.RHS, e.LHS} {
-		if isConst(e) {
-			c = e
-			continue
-		}
-		if t, ok := e.(*dag.ThisExpr); ok && this == nil && len(t.Path) > 1 && t.Path[0] == alias {
-			this = t
-			continue
-		}
+	if t, ok := e.LHS.(*dag.ThisExpr); ok && isConst(e.RHS) {
+		this, c = t, e.RHS
+	} else if t, ok := e.RHS.(*dag.ThisExpr); ok && isConst(e.LHS) {
+		this, c = t, e.LHS
+	}
+	if c == nil || this == nil || len(this.Path) < 1 || this.Path[0] != alias {
 		return nil, false
 	}
 	path := slices.Clone(this.Path[1:])
diff --git a/compiler/ztests/sql/join-filter-pullup.yaml b/compiler/ztests/sql/join-filter-pullup.yaml
index 39a55cd24..aa9e07bc6 100644
--- a/compiler/ztests/sql/join-filter-pullup.yaml
+++ b/compiler/ztests/sql/join-filter-pullup.yaml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ script: |
       and a1 in |[1,5,9]|
       and a3 in (1,5,[9,11])
       and (1 == a2 or a2 == 2)
+      and 1 == 1
   "
 
 outputs:
@@ -51,5 +52,6 @@ outputs:
           | cross join as {left,right}
         )
       | cross join as {left,right}
+      | where 1==1
       | values {a1:left.a1,a2:right.left.a2,a3:right.right.a3}
       | output main