diff --git a/lisp/org-table.el b/lisp/org-table.el
index 39cddab07..021e14e4e 100644
--- a/lisp/org-table.el
+++ b/lisp/org-table.el
@@ -4158,7 +4158,7 @@ overwritten, and the table is not marked as requiring realignment."
 	   (looking-at "[^|\n]*  +|"))
       (let (org-table-may-need-update)
 	(goto-char (1- (match-end 0)))
-	(delete-char -1)
+	(backward-delete-char 1)
 	(goto-char (match-beginning 0))
 	(self-insert-command N))
     (setq org-table-may-need-update t)
diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 8c81da6a9..d3b1ddc6d 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -17755,7 +17755,7 @@ overwritten, and the table is not marked as requiring realignment."
      (looking-at "[^|\n]*  |"))
     (let (org-table-may-need-update)
       (goto-char (1- (match-end 0)))
-      (delete-char -1)
+      (backward-delete-char 1)
       (goto-char (match-beginning 0))
       (self-insert-command N)))
    (t