diff --git a/datajoint/autopopulate.py b/datajoint/autopopulate.py
index d5cabe06..461972cf 100644
--- a/datajoint/autopopulate.py
+++ b/datajoint/autopopulate.py
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ def make(self, key):
         The method can be implemented either as:
         (a) Regular method: All three steps are performed in a single database transaction.
             The method must return None.
-        (b) Generator method: 
-            The make method is split into three functions: 
+        (b) Generator method:
+            The make method is split into three functions:
             - `make_fetch`: Fetches data from the parent tables.
             - `make_compute`: Computes secondary attributes based on the fetched data.
             - `make_insert`: Inserts the computed data into the current table.
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def make(self, key):
                     self.make_insert(key, *computed_result)
                     commit_transaction
             <pseudocode>
-    
+
         Importantly, the output of make_fetch is a tuple that serves as the input into `make_compute`.
         The output of `make_compute` is a tuple that serves as the input into `make_insert`.
 
@@ -412,11 +412,10 @@ def _populate1(
                     != deepdiff.DeepHash(fetched_data, ignore_iterable_order=False)[
                         fetched_data
                     ]
-                ):  # rollback due to referential integrity fail
-                    self.connection.cancel_transaction()
-                    logger.warning(
-                        f"Referential integrity failed for {key} -> {self.target.full_table_name}")
-                    return False
+                ):  # raise error if fetched data has changed
+                    raise DataJointError(
+                        "Referential integrity failed! The `make_fetch` data has changed"
+                    )
                 gen.send(computed_result)  # insert
 
         except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit, Exception) as error: