diff --git a/rag/utils/table_es_metadata.py b/rag/utils/table_es_metadata.py
index 82baddf5be..7f24e7775c 100644
--- a/rag/utils/table_es_metadata.py
+++ b/rag/utils/table_es_metadata.py
@@ -244,9 +244,14 @@ def aggregate_table_doc_metadata(chunks: list, task: dict) -> dict:
             for col in meta_cols:
                 tk, _src = es_col_keys.get(col, (None, "none"))
                 if not tk:
-                    if i == 0:
-                        logging.debug(f"[TABLE_META_DEBUG] no resolved ES key for column '{col}'")
-                    continue
+                    tk, src = _resolve_es_chunk_field_key(col, fm, ck)
+                    if tk:
+                        es_col_keys[col] = (tk, src)
+                        logging.debug(f"[TABLE_META_DEBUG] column '{col}' -> ES key {tk!r} (source={src}, chunk={i})")
+                    else:
+                        if i == 0:
+                            logging.debug(f"[TABLE_META_DEBUG] no resolved ES key for column '{col}'")
+                        continue
                 raw_k = _es_raw_field_key_from_typed(tk)
                 val = None
                 from_tks = False
diff --git a/test/unit_test/rag/svr/test_table_metadata_aggregation.py b/test/unit_test/rag/svr/test_table_metadata_aggregation.py
index 9406d1fe40..1924688d5a 100644
--- a/test/unit_test/rag/svr/test_table_metadata_aggregation.py
+++ b/test/unit_test/rag/svr/test_table_metadata_aggregation.py
@@ -91,6 +91,20 @@ class TestAggregateTableManualDocMetadata:
         out = aggregate_table_doc_metadata(chunks, task)
         assert out == {"country": ["Brazil"]}
 
+    def test_aggregate_auto_mode_probes_later_sparse_chunks(self, es_engine):
+        task = {
+            "parser_id": "table",
+            "parser_config": {},
+            "kb_parser_config": {
+                "table_column_mode": "auto",
+                "table_column_names": ["notes"],
+                "table_column_roles": {"notes": "both"},
+            },
+        }
+        chunks = [{}, {"notes_raw": "Handle with care"}]
+
+        assert aggregate_table_doc_metadata(chunks, task) == {"notes": ["Handle with care"]}
+
     def test_aggregate_auto_mode_all_columns_both(self, es_engine):
         task = {
             "parser_id": "table",