diff --git a/tests/test_align.py b/tests/test_align.py
index 3ef217e..677ea79 100644
--- a/tests/test_align.py
+++ b/tests/test_align.py
@@ -156,3 +156,30 @@ def test_tabular_math():
 
     ret = texplain.indent(text)
     assert ret.strip() == formatted.strip()
+
+
+def test_tabular_math_empty():
+    text = r"""
+\begin{tabular}{lll}
+    \toprule
+    Foo & Bar  & Baz   \\
+    \midrule
+    $a$ & & $e$  \\
+    $c'$ & $d = 2$ & $f'$ \\
+    \bottomrule
+\end{tabular}
+"""
+
+    formatted = r"""
+\begin{tabular}{lll}
+    \toprule
+    Foo  & Bar     & Baz  \\
+    \midrule
+    $a$  &         & $e$  \\
+    $c'$ & $d = 2$ & $f'$ \\
+    \bottomrule
+\end{tabular}
+"""
+
+    ret = texplain.indent(text)
+    assert ret.strip() == formatted.strip()
diff --git a/texplain/__init__.py b/texplain/__init__.py
index 42f497b..1b19614 100644
--- a/texplain/__init__.py
+++ b/texplain/__init__.py
@@ -1160,10 +1160,18 @@ def _align(text: str, placeholders: dict[list[Placeholder]] = {}, maxwidth: int
         line = re.split(r"((?<!\\)&)", lines[i])
         line = line[:-1] + re.split(r"((?<!\\)\\\\)", line[-1])
         line = list(filter(None, [i.strip() for i in line]))
-        if line[0] == "&":
-            line = [""] + line
-        lines[i] = line
-        cols = max(cols, len(line))
+        # ensure that there is always a string or empty string before "&""
+        icol = np.arange(len(line))
+        for j in np.argwhere(np.array(line) == "&").flatten():
+            if j == 0:
+                icol += 1
+            elif line[j - 1] == "&":
+                icol[j:] += 1
+        ret = ["" for _ in range(np.max(icol) + 1)]
+        for j in range(len(line)):
+            ret[icol[j]] = line[j]
+        lines[i] = ret
+        cols = max(cols, len(ret))
 
     # compute the true with of each column
     # (i.e. the width of the content of placeholders, not the width of the placeholder itself)