diff --git a/src/databricks/labs/ucx/source_code/notebooks/cells.py b/src/databricks/labs/ucx/source_code/notebooks/cells.py
index 020cd279bc..712acee54a 100644
--- a/src/databricks/labs/ucx/source_code/notebooks/cells.py
+++ b/src/databricks/labs/ucx/source_code/notebooks/cells.py
@@ -484,9 +484,15 @@ def _split(cls, code: str) -> list[str]:
         Sources:
             https://docs.databricks.com/en/libraries/notebooks-python-libraries.html#manage-libraries-with-pip-commands
         """
+        # strip preliminary comments
+        pip_idx = code.find("pip")
+        if pip_idx > 0 and code[pip_idx - 1] in {'%', '!'}:
+            pip_idx -= 1
+        code = code[pip_idx:]
+        # look for standalone '\n'
         match = cls._splitter.search(code)
         if match:
             code = code[: match.start()]  # Remove code after non-escaped newline
+        # make single line
         code = code.replace("\\\n", " ")
-        lexer = shlex.split(code, posix=True)
-        return list(lexer)
+        return shlex.split(code, posix=True)
diff --git a/tests/integration/source_code/test_cells.py b/tests/integration/source_code/test_cells.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a1621ad94a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/source_code/test_cells.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from databricks.sdk.service.workspace import Language
+
+from databricks.labs.ucx.source_code.base import CurrentSessionState
+from databricks.labs.ucx.source_code.graph import Dependency, DependencyGraph
+from databricks.labs.ucx.source_code.linters.files import FileLoader
+from databricks.labs.ucx.source_code.notebooks.sources import Notebook
+
+
+def test_malformed_pip_cell_is_supported(simple_ctx):
+    source = """# Databricks notebook source
+# MAGIC %md This notebook sets up the companion cluster(s) to run the solution accelerator. It also creates the Workflow to illustrate the order of execution. Happy exploring!
+
+# COMMAND ----------
+
+# DBTITLE 0,Install util packages
+# MAGIC %pip install git+https://github.com/databricks-academy/dbacademy@v1.0.13 git+https://github.com/databricks-industry-solutions/notebook-solution-companion@safe-print-html --quiet --disable-pip-version-check
+
+"""
+    notebook = Notebook.parse(Path(""), source=source, default_language=Language.PYTHON)
+    dependency = Dependency(FileLoader(), Path(""))
+    parent = DependencyGraph(
+        dependency, None, simple_ctx.dependency_resolver, simple_ctx.path_lookup, CurrentSessionState()
+    )
+    problems = notebook.build_dependency_graph(parent)
+    assert not problems