diff --git a/src/commands/mergecellcommand.js b/src/commands/mergecellcommand.js
index f8449990..19f26e94 100644
--- a/src/commands/mergecellcommand.js
+++ b/src/commands/mergecellcommand.js
@@ -153,7 +153,10 @@ export default class MergeCellCommand extends Command {
 // @param {String} direction
 // @returns {module:engine/model/node~Node|null}
 function getHorizontalCell( tableCell, direction, tableUtils ) {
+	const tableRow = tableCell.parent;
+	const table = tableRow.parent;
 	const horizontalCell = direction == 'right' ? tableCell.nextSibling : tableCell.previousSibling;
+	const headingColumns = table.getAttribute( 'headingColumns' ) || 0;
 
 	if ( !horizontalCell ) {
 		return;
@@ -168,6 +171,15 @@ function getHorizontalCell( tableCell, direction, tableUtils ) {
 	const { column: rightCellColumn } = tableUtils.getCellLocation( cellOnRight );
 
 	const leftCellSpan = parseInt( cellOnLeft.getAttribute( 'colspan' ) || 1 );
+	const rightCellSpan = parseInt( cellOnRight.getAttribute( 'colspan' ) || 1 );
+
+	// We cannot merge cells if the result will extend over heading section.
+	const isMergeWithBodyCell = direction == 'right' && ( rightCellColumn + rightCellSpan > headingColumns );
+	const isMergeWithHeadCell = direction == 'left' && ( leftCellColumn + leftCellSpan > headingColumns - 1 );
+
+	if ( headingColumns && ( isMergeWithBodyCell || isMergeWithHeadCell ) ) {
+		return;
+	}
 
 	// The cell on the right must have index that is distant to the cell on the left by the left cell's width (colspan).
 	const cellsAreTouching = leftCellColumn + leftCellSpan === rightCellColumn;
diff --git a/tests/commands/mergecellcommand.js b/tests/commands/mergecellcommand.js
index 694ff799..4c420bfa 100644
--- a/tests/commands/mergecellcommand.js
+++ b/tests/commands/mergecellcommand.js
@@ -93,6 +93,46 @@ describe( 'MergeCellCommand', () => {
 
 				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
 			} );
+
+			it( 'should be false if mergeable cell is in other table section then current cell', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ '00[]', '01' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 1 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
+			} );
+
+			it( 'should be false if merged cell would cross heading section (mergeable cell with colspan)', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ '00[]', { colspan: 2, contents: '01' }, '02', '03' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 2 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
+			} );
+
+			it( 'should be true if merged cell would not cross heading section (mergeable cell with colspan)', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ '00[]', { colspan: 2, contents: '01' }, '02', '03' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 3 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.true;
+			} );
+
+			it( 'should be false if merged cell would cross heading section (current cell with colspan)', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ { colspan: 2, contents: '00[]' }, '01', '02', '03' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 2 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
+			} );
+
+			it( 'should be true if merged cell would not cross heading section (current cell with colspan)', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ { colspan: 2, contents: '00[]' }, '01', '02', '03' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 3 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.true;
+			} );
 		} );
 
 		describe( 'value', () => {
@@ -273,6 +313,22 @@ describe( 'MergeCellCommand', () => {
 
 				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
 			} );
+
+			it( 'should be false if mergeable cell is in other table section then current cell', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ '00', '01[]' ],
+				], { headingColumns: 1 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
+			} );
+
+			it( 'should be false if merged cell would cross heading section (mergeable cell with colspan)', () => {
+				setData( model, modelTable( [
+					[ { colspan: 2, contents: '00' }, '02[]', '03' ]
+				], { headingColumns: 2 } ) );
+
+				expect( command.isEnabled ).to.be.false;
+			} );
 		} );
 
 		describe( 'value', () => {