diff --git a/docxtpl/__init__.py b/docxtpl/__init__.py
index faa644a..af51dad 100644
--- a/docxtpl/__init__.py
+++ b/docxtpl/__init__.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class DocxTemplate(object):
                     m1.group(4)  # ``</w:t>``.
                 )
             return re.sub(
-                r'(</w:tcPr>.*?<w:t>)(.*?)(?:{%\s*vm\s*%})(.*?)(</w:t>)',
+                r'(</w:tcPr[ >].*?<w:t(?:.*?)>)(.*?)(?:{%\s*vm\s*%})(.*?)(</w:t>)',
                 vMerge,
                 m.group(),  # Everything between ``</w:tc>`` and ``</w:tc>`` with ``{% vm %}`` inside.
                 flags=re.DOTALL,
diff --git a/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested.docx b/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested.docx
index 79f8a28..62c9f76 100644
Binary files a/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested.docx and b/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested.docx differ
diff --git a/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested_tpl.docx b/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested_tpl.docx
index 095d64e..185ad61 100644
Binary files a/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested_tpl.docx and b/tests/test_files/vertical_merge_nested_tpl.docx differ