diff --git a/rich/cells.py b/rich/cells.py
index dead6174..6e532208 100644
--- a/rich/cells.py
+++ b/rich/cells.py
@@ -150,7 +150,9 @@ def _cell_len(text: str, unicode_version: str) -> int:
     while index < character_count:
         character = text[index]
         if character in SPECIAL:
-            if character == "\ufe0f" and last_measured_character:
+            if character == "\u200d":
+                index += 1
+            elif character == "\ufe0f" and last_measured_character:
                 total_width += last_measured_character in cell_table.narrow_to_wide
                 last_measured_character = None
         else:
diff --git a/tests/test_cells.py b/tests/test_cells.py
index 7da1d032..f101740a 100644
--- a/tests/test_cells.py
+++ b/tests/test_cells.py
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ def test_zwj():
     assert cell_len("") == 0
     assert cell_len("\u200d") == 0
     assert cell_len("1\u200d") == 1
-    assert cell_len("1\u200d2") == 2
+    # This sequence should really produce 2, but it aligns with with wcwidth
+    # What gets written to the terminal is anybody's guess, I've seen multiple variations
+    assert cell_len("1\u200d2") == 1
 
 
 def test_non_printable():