diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/table.py b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
index 2d8adfbd5db3..97325b34674c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/table.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/table.py
@@ -410,7 +410,10 @@ def _do_cell_alignment(self):
 
     def auto_set_column_width(self, col):
 
-        self._autoColumns.append(col)
+        if isinstance(col, list):
+            self._autoColumns = self._autoColumns + col
+        else:
+            self._autoColumns.append(col)
         self.stale = True
 
     def _auto_set_column_width(self, col, renderer):