diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index 3bda85e..8200ca7 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -245,12 +245,11 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
             columns = row.find_all('td')
             if len(headers) > 0:
                 headers = [head.text.strip() for head in headers]
-                headers = [head for head in headers if head]
-                text_data.append(' | '.join(headers))
-                text_data.append(' | '.join(['---'] * len(headers)))
+                text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(headers) + ' |')
+                text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(['---'] * len(headers)) + ' |')
             elif len(columns) > 0:
                 columns = [colm.text.strip() for colm in columns]
-                text_data.append(' | '.join(columns))
+                text_data.append('| ' + ' | '.join(columns) + ' |')
             else:
                 continue
         return '\n'.join(text_data)
diff --git a/tests/test_conversions.py b/tests/test_conversions.py
index de3307f..bf09506 100644
--- a/tests/test_conversions.py
+++ b/tests/test_conversions.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ table_missing_text = re.sub(r'\s+', '', """
 <table>
     <thead>
             <tr>
-            <th>Firstname</th>
+            <th></th>
             <th>Lastname</th>
             <th>Age</th>
             </tr>
@@ -289,6 +289,6 @@ def test_div():
 
 
 def test_table():
-    assert md(table) == 'Firstname | Lastname | Age\n--- | --- | ---\nJill | Smith | 50\nEve | Jackson | 94'
-    assert md(table_head_body) == 'Firstname | Lastname | Age\n--- | --- | ---\nJill | Smith | 50\nEve | Jackson | 94'
-    assert md(table_missing_text) == 'Firstname | Lastname | Age\n--- | --- | ---\nJill |  | 50\nEve | Jackson | 94'
+    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 |'