diff --git a/lisp/org-footnote.el b/lisp/org-footnote.el
index f59b861cc..729a4a930 100644
--- a/lisp/org-footnote.el
+++ b/lisp/org-footnote.el
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ otherwise."
        ((= (point) (org-element-property :begin context)))
        ;; Within recursive object too, but not in a link.
        ((eq type 'link) nil)
+       ((eq type 'table-cell)
+        ;; :contents-begin is not reliable on empty cells, so special
+        ;; case it.
+        (<= (point) (org-element-property :contents-end context)))
        ((let ((cbeg (org-element-property :contents-begin context))
 	      (cend (org-element-property :contents-end context)))
 	  (and cbeg (>= (point) cbeg) (<= (point) cend))))))))
diff --git a/testing/lisp/test-org-footnote.el b/testing/lisp/test-org-footnote.el
index 9f2307637..4ce5b3458 100644
--- a/testing/lisp/test-org-footnote.el
+++ b/testing/lisp/test-org-footnote.el
@@ -90,6 +90,25 @@
     (org-test-with-temp-text " *bold*<point>"
       (let ((org-footnote-auto-label t)) (org-footnote-new))
       (buffer-string))))
+  ;; Arrow new footnotes in empty cells.
+  (should
+   (string-match-p
+    " \\[fn:1\\]"
+    (org-test-with-temp-text "| <point> |"
+      (let ((org-footnote-auto-label t)) (org-footnote-new))
+      (buffer-string))))
+  (should
+   (string-match-p
+    "|\\[fn:1\\]"
+    (org-test-with-temp-text "|<point> |"
+      (let ((org-footnote-auto-label t)) (org-footnote-new))
+      (buffer-string))))
+  (should
+   (string-match-p
+    " \\[fn:1\\]"
+    (org-test-with-temp-text "| <point>|"
+      (let ((org-footnote-auto-label t)) (org-footnote-new))
+      (buffer-string))))
   ;; When creating a new footnote, move to its definition.
   (should
    (string=