diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ae1f2de3af..498be00f85 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@
 
   ([PR #976](https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/976))
 
+- Defend tables against GOV.UK Elements code
+  ([PR #983](https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/983))
+
 - Pull Request Title goes here
 
   Description goes here (optional)
diff --git a/src/components/table/_table.scss b/src/components/table/_table.scss
index e329a254bf..76ef87739d 100644
--- a/src/components/table/_table.scss
+++ b/src/components/table/_table.scss
@@ -15,16 +15,19 @@
 
   .govuk-table__header {
     @include govuk-typography-weight-bold;
-
-    padding: govuk-spacing(2) govuk-spacing(4) govuk-spacing(2) 0;
-    border-bottom: 1px solid $govuk-border-colour;
-    text-align: left;
   }
 
+  .govuk-table__header,
   .govuk-table__cell {
     padding: govuk-spacing(2) govuk-spacing(4) govuk-spacing(2) 0;
     border-bottom: 1px solid $govuk-border-colour;
     text-align: left;
+    // GOV.UK Elements sets the font-size and line-height for all headers and cells
+    // in tables.
+    @include govuk-compatibility(govuk_elements) {
+      font-size: inherit;
+      line-height: inherit;
+    }
   }
 
   .govuk-table__cell--numeric {