diff --git a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/AbstractCellTable.java b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/AbstractCellTable.java
index 58dbc9d..fade895 100644
--- a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/AbstractCellTable.java
+++ b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/AbstractCellTable.java
@@ -1806,21 +1806,32 @@
       headerParent = isHeader ? headerParent : footerParent;
       Element columnParent = isHeader ? headerColumnParent : footerColumnParent;
 
+      boolean shouldSortColumn = true;
       // Fire the event to the header.
       if (headerParent != null) {
         Header<?> header =
             isHeader ? headerBuilder.getHeader(headerParent) : footerBuilder
                 .getHeader(footerParent);
-        if (header != null && cellConsumesEventType(header.getCell(), eventType)) {
+
+        if (header != null) {
           int headerIndex = isHeader ? headerBuilder.getRowIndex(targetTableRow) :
               footerBuilder.getRowIndex(targetTableRow);
           Context context = new Context(headerIndex, col, header.getKey());
-          header.onBrowserEvent(context, headerParent, event);
+
+          if (cellConsumesEventType(header.getCell(), eventType)) {          
+            header.onBrowserEvent(context, headerParent, event);
+          }
+
+          if (isClick) {
+            // Preview the event, and possibily disable the column sort event. The event preview is
+            // forced even if the header cell does not consume click event
+            shouldSortColumn = header.onPreviewColumnSortEvent(context, headerParent, event);
+          }
         }
       }
 
       // Sort the header.
-      if (isClick && columnParent != null) {
+      if (isClick && shouldSortColumn && columnParent != null) {
         Column<T, ?> column =
             isHeader ? headerBuilder.getColumn(columnParent) : footerBuilder
                 .getColumn(columnParent);
diff --git a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/Header.java b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/Header.java
index 5123461..ad8b95b 100644
--- a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/Header.java
+++ b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/Header.java
@@ -93,6 +93,25 @@
   }
 
   /**
+   * Preview a browser event that may trigger a column sort event. Return true if the
+   * {@link CellTable} should proceed with sorting the column. Subclasses can override this method
+   * to disable column sort for some click events, or particular header/footer sections.
+   * <p>
+   * This method will be invoked even if the header's cell does not consume a click event.
+   * </p>
+   * 
+   * @param context the context of the header
+   * @param elem the parent Element
+   * @param event the native browser event
+   * @return true if the {@link CellTable} should continue respond to the event (i.e., if this is
+   *         a click event on a sortable column's header, fire {@link ColumnSortEvent}). False if
+   *         the {@link CellTable} should stop respond to the event. 
+   */
+  public boolean onPreviewColumnSortEvent(Context context, Element elem, NativeEvent event) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Render the header.
    * 
    * @param context the context of the header