diff --git a/decoder/expr_list_ref_targets.go b/decoder/expr_list_ref_targets.go
index e29b3df1..22b3969c 100644
--- a/decoder/expr_list_ref_targets.go
+++ b/decoder/expr_list_ref_targets.go
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ func (list List) ReferenceTargets(ctx context.Context, targetCtx *TargetContext)
 	for i, elemExpr := range eType.Exprs {
 		expr := newExpression(list.pathCtx, elemExpr, list.cons.Elem)
 		if e, ok := expr.(ReferenceTargetsExpression); ok {
+			if targetCtx == nil {
+				// collect any targets inside the expression
+				// if attribute itself isn't targetable
+				elemTargets = append(elemTargets, e.ReferenceTargets(ctx, nil)...)
+				continue
+			}
+
 			elemCtx := targetCtx.Copy()
 			elemCtx.ParentAddress = append(elemCtx.ParentAddress, lang.IndexStep{
 				Key: cty.NumberIntVal(int64(i)),
diff --git a/decoder/expr_tuple_ref_targets.go b/decoder/expr_tuple_ref_targets.go
index 157cd04e..60ff74c0 100644
--- a/decoder/expr_tuple_ref_targets.go
+++ b/decoder/expr_tuple_ref_targets.go
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ func (tuple Tuple) ReferenceTargets(ctx context.Context, targetCtx *TargetContex
 
 		expr := newExpression(tuple.pathCtx, elemExpr, tuple.cons.Elems[i])
 		if e, ok := expr.(ReferenceTargetsExpression); ok {
+			if targetCtx == nil {
+				// collect any targets inside the expression
+				// if attribute itself isn't targetable
+				elemTargets = append(elemTargets, e.ReferenceTargets(ctx, nil)...)
+				continue
+			}
+
 			elemCtx := targetCtx.Copy()
 			elemCtx.ParentAddress = append(elemCtx.ParentAddress, lang.IndexStep{
 				Key: cty.NumberIntVal(int64(i)),