diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index 6230fb8..284eba3 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -279,14 +279,20 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
     def convert_table(self, el, text, convert_as_inline):
         rows = el.find_all('tr')
         text_data = []
+        rendered_header = False
         for row in rows:
             headers = row.find_all('th')
             columns = row.find_all('td')
-            if len(headers) > 0:
+            if not rendered_header and len(headers) > 0:
                 headers = [head.text.strip() for head in headers]
                 text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(headers) + ' |')
                 text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(['---'] * len(headers)) + ' |')
+                rendered_header = True
             elif len(columns) > 0:
+                if not rendered_header:
+                    text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join([''] * len(columns)) + ' |')
+                    text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(['---'] * len(columns)) + ' |')
+                    rendered_header = True
                 columns = [colm.text.strip() for colm in columns]
                 text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(columns) + ' |')
             else:
diff --git a/tests/test_conversions.py b/tests/test_conversions.py
index 6663204..e6f70c0 100644
--- a/tests/test_conversions.py
+++ b/tests/test_conversions.py
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ nested_ols = """
     </ul>"""
 
 
-table = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
-<table>
+table = """<table>
     <tr>
         <th>Firstname</th>
         <th>Lastname</th>
@@ -58,18 +57,16 @@ table = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
         <td>Jackson</td>
         <td>94</td>
     </tr>
-</table>
-""")
+</table>"""
 
 
-table_head_body = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
-<table>
+table_head_body = """<table>
     <thead>
-            <tr>
+        <tr>
             <th>Firstname</th>
             <th>Lastname</th>
             <th>Age</th>
-            </tr>
+        </tr>
     </thead>
     <tbody>
         <tr>
@@ -83,17 +80,15 @@ table_head_body = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
             <td>94</td>
         </tr>
     </tbody>
-</table>
-""")
+</table>"""
 
-table_missing_text = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
-<table>
+table_missing_text = """<table>
     <thead>
-            <tr>
+        <tr>
             <th></th>
             <th>Lastname</th>
             <th>Age</th>
-            </tr>
+        </tr>
     </thead>
     <tbody>
         <tr>
@@ -107,8 +102,25 @@ table_missing_text = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
             <td>94</td>
         </tr>
     </tbody>
-</table>
-""")
+</table>"""
+
+table_missing_head = """<table>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Firstname</td>
+        <td>Lastname</td>
+        <td>Age</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Jill</td>
+        <td>Smith</td>
+        <td>50</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Eve</td>
+        <td>Jackson</td>
+        <td>94</td>
+    </tr>
+</table>"""
 
 
 def test_chomp():
@@ -325,6 +337,7 @@ def test_table():
     assert md(table) == '| Firstname | Lastname | Age |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Jill | Smith | 50 |\n| Eve | Jackson | 94 |'
     assert md(table_head_body) == '| Firstname | Lastname | Age |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Jill | Smith | 50 |\n| Eve | Jackson | 94 |'
     assert md(table_missing_text) == '|  | Lastname | Age |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Jill |  | 50 |\n| Eve | Jackson | 94 |'
+    assert md(table_missing_head) == '|  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Firstname | Lastname | Age |\n| Jill | Smith | 50 |\n| Eve | Jackson | 94 |'
 
 
 def test_strong_em_symbol():