diff --git a/cmd/server/db.go b/cmd/server/db.go
index 56995405..4a915820 100644
--- a/cmd/server/db.go
+++ b/cmd/server/db.go
@@ -996,8 +996,11 @@ func (db *DB) GetNodes(limit, offset int, role, search, before, lastHeard, sortB
 			if !db.isV3 {
 				joinCond = "obs.id = o.observer_id"
 			}
+			// #1143: from_pubkey is a dedicated, indexed column populated at
+			// ingest (and backfilled) for ADVERT rows specifically so pubkey
+			// lookups don't need to JSON_EXTRACT + parse decoded_json per row.
 			subq := fmt.Sprintf(`public_key IN (
-				SELECT DISTINCT JSON_EXTRACT(t.decoded_json, '$.pubKey')
+				SELECT DISTINCT t.from_pubkey
 				FROM transmissions t
 				JOIN observations o ON o.transmission_id = t.id
 				JOIN observers obs ON %s