diff --git a/js/core/core.draw.js b/js/core/core.draw.js
index c97e9bf8a..52d5b2db6 100644
--- a/js/core/core.draw.js
+++ b/js/core/core.draw.js
@@ -748,6 +748,13 @@ function _fnGetUniqueThs ( oSettings, nHeader, aLayout )
 			{
 				aReturn[j] = aLayout[i][j].cell;
 			}
+			
+			// In case the bSortCellsTop is an integer, insert the header cells to a provided header row index
+			if ( aLayout[i][j].unique &&
+				(!aReturn[j] || Number.isInteger(oSettings.bSortCellsTop)) )
+			   {
+				   aReturn[j] = aLayout[oSettings.bSortCellsTop][j].cell;
+			   }
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/js/model/model.defaults.js b/js/model/model.defaults.js
index 4b0b3f7cc..c3bd2752a 100644
--- a/js/model/model.defaults.js
+++ b/js/model/model.defaults.js
@@ -702,8 +702,9 @@ DataTable.defaults = {
 	/**
 	 * Allows control over whether DataTables should use the top (true) unique
 	 * cell that is found for a single column, or the bottom (false - default).
+	 * If an integer is provided, order controls will be inserted into a header row with given index.
 	 * This is useful when using complex headers.
-	 *  @type boolean
+	 *  @type boolean | integer
 	 *  @default false
 	 *
 	 *  @dtopt Options