diff --git a/src/dragonglass/mparse.py b/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
index 546e9a1..63da1d7 100644
--- a/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
+++ b/src/dragonglass/mparse.py
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ class ObsidianImages(Extension):
             int: The image width in pixels, or -1 if not specified.
             int: The image height in pixels, or -1 if not specified.
         """
+        s = s.replace(r'\|', '|')  # handle case where we're inside tables
         m = self.DIMS.match(s)
         if m:
             width = int(m.group(2))
@@ -248,11 +249,12 @@ class ObsidianLinks(Extension):
         return 'invalid-reference'
 
     def _parse_reference(self, contents: str) -> tuple[str | None, str]:
+        contents = contents.replace(r'\|','|')  # handle case where we're inside tables
         text = None
         t = contents.split('|')
         if len(t) > 1:
             text = t[1]
-            contents = t[0]
+            contents = t[0].rstrip('\\')
 
         assert self._context.src_index is not None
         node, _ = self._context.src_index.lookup(contents)