diff --git a/modules/intermediate_format/preprocessing.xqm b/modules/intermediate_format/preprocessing.xqm
index 234194ebb9e68bab218c46baba05d82c60485acf..46e87c16a07bd2a1cf03fe77a0e4ce3a5c70a40d 100644
--- a/modules/intermediate_format/preprocessing.xqm
+++ b/modules/intermediate_format/preprocessing.xqm
@@ -302,6 +302,12 @@ declare function pre:preprocessing
                         pre:preprocessing($node/node(), $replace-whitespace)
                     }
                 )
+                else if($node[@type = 'cell']) then(
+                    element {'row'} {
+                        $node/@*[name() != 'type'],
+                        pre:preprocessing($node/node(), $replace-whitespace)
+                    }
+                )
                 else (
                     pre:default-element( $node, pre:preprocessing($node/node(), $replace-whitespace) )
                 )