diff --git a/markdown/extensions/tables.py b/markdown/extensions/tables.py
index 494aaeb3e..39c09a46a 100644
--- a/markdown/extensions/tables.py
+++ b/markdown/extensions/tables.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def _split(self, row, marker):
                     groups = match.groups()
                     delim = groups[1]  # the code block delimeter (ie 1 or more backticks)
                     row_contents = groups[2]  # the text contained inside the code block
-                    i += match.start(4)  # jump pointer to the beginning of the rest of the text (group #4)
+                    i += match.start(4) - 1  # jump pointer to the beginning of the rest of the text (group #4)
                     element = delim + row_contents + delim  # reinstert backticks
                     current += element
             i += 1
diff --git a/tests/extensions/extra/tables.html b/tests/extensions/extra/tables.html
index 91337e57d..783c20574 100644
--- a/tests/extensions/extra/tables.html
+++ b/tests/extensions/extra/tables.html
@@ -235,4 +235,19 @@ <h2>Table Tests</h2>
 <td>more words</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
+</table>
+<p>A test for issue #440:</p>
+<table>
+<thead>
+<tr>
+<th>foo</th>
+<th>bar</th>
+</tr>
+</thead>
+<tbody>
+<tr>
+<td>foo</td>
+<td>(<code>bar</code>) and <code>baz</code>.</td>
+</tr>
+</tbody>
 </table>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/extensions/extra/tables.txt b/tests/extensions/extra/tables.txt
index 1602d1f3d..c9ca70a1a 100644
--- a/tests/extensions/extra/tables.txt
+++ b/tests/extensions/extra/tables.txt
@@ -68,4 +68,10 @@ words    |``` some | code ``` | more words
 words    |```` some | code ```` | more words
 words    |`` some ` | ` code `` | more words
 words    |``` some ` | ` code ``` | more words
-words    |```` some ` | ` code ```` | more words
\ No newline at end of file
+words    |```` some ` | ` code ```` | more words
+
+A test for issue #440:
+
+foo | bar
+--- | ---
+foo | (`bar`) and `baz`.
\ No newline at end of file