diff --git a/damnit/gui/main_window.py b/damnit/gui/main_window.py
index a188e50e..9ac98e98 100644
--- a/damnit/gui/main_window.py
+++ b/damnit/gui/main_window.py
@@ -691,7 +691,12 @@ def inspect_data(self, index):
 
         if data.ndim == 1:
             if isinstance(data, xr.DataArray):
-                canvas = Xarray1DPlotWindow(self, data, title=title)
+                try:
+                    canvas = Xarray1DPlotWindow(self, data, title=title)
+                except Exception as exc:
+                    QMessageBox.warning(
+                        self, f"Can't inspect variable {quantity}", str(exc))
+                    return
             else:
                 canvas = ScatterPlotWindow(self,
                     x=[np.arange(len(data))],
@@ -701,11 +706,16 @@ def inspect_data(self, index):
                     title=title,
             )
         elif data.ndim == 2 or (data.ndim == 3 and data.shape[-1] in (3, 4)):
-            canvas = ImagePlotWindow(
-                self,
-                image=data,
-                title=f"{variable.title} (run {run})",
-            )
+            try:
+                canvas = ImagePlotWindow(
+                    self,
+                    image=data,
+                    title=f"{variable.title} (run {run})",
+                )
+            except Exception as exc:
+                QMessageBox.warning(
+                    self, f"Can't inspect variable {quantity}", str(exc))
+                return
         elif data.ndim == 0:
             # If this is a scalar value, then we can't plot it
             QMessageBox.warning(self, "Can't inspect variable",
diff --git a/tests/test_gui.py b/tests/test_gui.py
index 4d126cdf..15d0060d 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui.py
@@ -708,6 +708,18 @@ def color_image(run):
     @Variable(title='2D data with summary', summary='mean')
     def mean_2d(run):
         return np.random.rand(512, 512)
+
+    @Variable(title="2D Complex", summary='max')
+    def complex_2d(run):
+        return np.array([
+            [1+1j, 2+2j, 3+3j, 4+4j],
+            [1+1j, 2+2j, 3+3j, 4+4j],
+            [1+1j, 2+2j, 3+3j, 4+4j]])
+
+    @Variable(title="1D Xarray Complex", summary='max')
+    def complex_xr_1d(run):
+        import xarray as xr
+        return xr.DataArray(np.array([1+1j, 2+2j, 3+3j, 4+4j]))
     """
     ctx_code = mock_ctx.code + "\n\n" + textwrap.dedent(const_array_code)
     (db_dir / "context.py").write_text(ctx_code)
@@ -789,6 +801,17 @@ def get_index(title, row=0):
         win.inspect_data(mean_2d_index)
         warning.assert_not_called()
 
+    # xarray of complex data is not inspectable
+    complex_2d = get_index('2D Complex')
+    with patch.object(QMessageBox, "warning") as warning:
+        win.inspect_data(complex_2d)
+        warning.assert_called_once()
+
+    complex_xr_1d = get_index('1D Xarray Complex')
+    with patch.object(QMessageBox, "warning") as warning:
+        win.inspect_data(complex_xr_1d)
+        warning.assert_called_once()
+
 
 def test_open_dialog(mock_db, qtbot):
     db_dir, db = mock_db