diff --git a/lib/md033.mjs b/lib/md033.mjs
index 8d64a942..0a3d8664 100644
--- a/lib/md033.mjs
+++ b/lib/md033.mjs
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@ export default {
     let allowedElements = params.config.allowed_elements;
     allowedElements = Array.isArray(allowedElements) ? allowedElements : [];
     allowedElements = allowedElements.map((element) => element.toLowerCase());
-    let tableAllowedElements = params.config.table_allowed_elements;
-    // if not defined, use allowedElements for backward compatibility
-    tableAllowedElements = Array.isArray(tableAllowedElements) ? tableAllowedElements : allowedElements;
+    let tableAllowedElements = params.config.table_allowed_elements ?? allowedElements;
+    tableAllowedElements = Array.isArray(tableAllowedElements) ? tableAllowedElements : [];
     tableAllowedElements = tableAllowedElements.map((element) => element.toLowerCase());
     for (const token of filterByTypesCached([ "htmlText" ], true)) {
       const htmlTagInfo = getHtmlTagInfo(token);