diff --git a/src/datajoint/table.py b/src/datajoint/table.py
index 7543c385e..6b45ecf04 100644
--- a/src/datajoint/table.py
+++ b/src/datajoint/table.py
@@ -148,8 +148,15 @@ def declare(self, context=None):
         try:
             self.connection.query(sql)
         except AccessError:
-            # skip if no create privilege
-            return
+            # Only suppress if table already exists (idempotent declaration)
+            # Otherwise raise - user needs to know about permission issues
+            if self.is_declared:
+                return
+            raise AccessError(
+                f"Cannot declare table {self.full_table_name}. "
+                f"Check that you have CREATE privilege on schema `{self.database}` "
+                f"and REFERENCES privilege on any referenced parent tables."
+            ) from None
 
         # Populate lineage table for this table's attributes
         self._populate_lineage(primary_key, fk_attribute_map)
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_privileges.py b/tests/integration/test_privileges.py
index ff5fc0c7f..0939823a0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_privileges.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_privileges.py
@@ -90,18 +90,19 @@ def test_insert_failure(self, connection_djview, schema_any):
             UnprivilegedLanguage().insert1(("Socrates", "Greek"))
 
     def test_failure_to_create_table(self, connection_djview, schema_any):
+        """Table declaration should raise AccessError when user lacks CREATE privilege."""
         unprivileged = dj.Schema(schema_any.database, namespace, connection=connection_djview)
 
-        @unprivileged
-        class Try(dj.Manual):
-            definition = """  # should not matter really
-            id : int
-            ---
-            value : float
-            """
+        # Should raise AccessError at declaration time, not silently fail
+        with pytest.raises(dj.errors.AccessError):
 
-        with pytest.raises(dj.DataJointError):
-            Try().insert1((1, 1.5))
+            @unprivileged
+            class Try(dj.Manual):
+                definition = """  # should not matter really
+                id : int
+                ---
+                value : float
+                """
 
 
 class TestSubset: