diff --git a/lib/kramdown/parser/html.rb b/lib/kramdown/parser/html.rb
index 23986d52..9fe57518 100644
--- a/lib/kramdown/parser/html.rb
+++ b/lib/kramdown/parser/html.rb
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ def is_simple_table?(el)
             end
           end
           check_nr_cells.call(el)
-          return false if nr_cells == -1
+          return false if nr_cells == -1 || nr_cells == 0
 
           alignment = nil
           check_alignment = proc do |t|
diff --git a/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.html b/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.html
index 88d9e6c3..0567d738 100644
--- a/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.html
+++ b/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.html
@@ -59,3 +59,6 @@
   </td>
 </tr>
 </table>
+
+<table>
+</table>
diff --git a/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.text b/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.text
index ae7852b1..7d294304 100644
--- a/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.text
+++ b/test/testcases/block/09_html/html_to_native/table_simple.text
@@ -69,3 +69,6 @@ Some more
   </td>
 </tr>
 </table>
+
+<table>
+</table>