diff --git a/lisp/org-element.el b/lisp/org-element.el
index e09d2cb52..73d0b46c9 100644
--- a/lisp/org-element.el
+++ b/lisp/org-element.el
@@ -3393,7 +3393,7 @@ LIMIT bounds the search.
 
 Return value is a cons cell whose CAR is `table-cell' and CDR is
 beginning position."
-  (when (looking-at "[ \t]*.*?[ \t]+|") (cons 'table-cell (point))))
+  (when (looking-at "[ \t]*.*?[ \t]*|") (cons 'table-cell (point))))
 
 
 ;;;; Target