diff --git a/dataset/persistence/database.py b/dataset/persistence/database.py
index e0b4f30..7072853 100644
--- a/dataset/persistence/database.py
+++ b/dataset/persistence/database.py
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ class Database(object):
         Enter a transaction explicitly.
 
         No data will be written until the transaction has been committed.
-        **NOTICE:** Schema modification operations, such as the creation
-        of tables or columns will not be part of the transactional context.
         """
         if not hasattr(self.local, 'tx'):
             self.local.tx = []
@@ -179,6 +177,9 @@ class Database(object):
         assert not isinstance(primary_type, six.string_types), \
             'Text-based primary_type support is dropped, use db.types.'
         table_name = self._valid_table_name(table_name)
+        table = self._reflect_table(table_name)
+        if table is not None:
+            return Table(self, table)
         self._acquire()
         try:
             log.debug("Creating table: %s" % (table_name))
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ class Database(object):
                              primary_key=True,
                              autoincrement=autoincrement)
                 table.append_column(col)
-            table.create(self.executable)
+            table.create(self.executable, checkfirst=True)
             return Table(self, table)
         finally:
             self._release()
@@ -222,7 +223,8 @@ class Database(object):
             return SQLATable(table_name,
                              self.metadata,
                              schema=self.schema,
-                             autoload=True)
+                             autoload=True,
+                             autoload_with=self.executable)
         except NoSuchTableError:
             return None
 
@@ -242,9 +244,6 @@ class Database(object):
             table = db['population']
 
         """
-        table = self._reflect_table(table_name)
-        if table is not None:
-            return Table(self, table)
         return self.create_table(table_name, primary_id, primary_type)
 
     def __getitem__(self, table_name):
diff --git a/dataset/persistence/table.py b/dataset/persistence/table.py
index 8c3d9c7..0f57dc3 100644
--- a/dataset/persistence/table.py
+++ b/dataset/persistence/table.py
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@ class Table(object):
         """Get a listing of all columns that exist in the table."""
         return list(self.table.columns.keys())
 
-    @property
-    def _normalized_columns(self):
-        return map(normalize_column_name, self.columns)
-
     def drop(self):
         """
         Drop the table from the database.
@@ -46,13 +42,13 @@ class Table(object):
         self._check_dropped()
         self.database._acquire()
         try:
-            self._is_dropped = True
-            self.table.drop(self.database.executable)
+            self.table.drop(self.database.executable, checkfirst=True)
+            self.table = None
         finally:
             self.database._release()
 
     def _check_dropped(self):
-        if self._is_dropped:
+        if self.table is None:
             raise DatasetException('the table has been dropped. this object should not be used again.')
 
     def _prune_row(self, row):
@@ -60,7 +56,7 @@ class Table(object):
         # normalize keys
         row = {normalize_column_name(k): v for k, v in row.items()}
         # filter out keys not in column set
-        return {k: row[k] for k in row if k in self._normalized_columns}
+        return {k: row[k] for k in row if k in self.columns}
 
     def insert(self, row, ensure=None, types=None):
         """
@@ -261,7 +257,7 @@ class Table(object):
         return rows.rowcount > 0
 
     def _has_column(self, column):
-        return normalize_column_name(column) in self._normalized_columns
+        return normalize_column_name(column) in self.columns
 
     def _ensure_columns(self, row, types=None):
         # Keep order of inserted columns
@@ -303,7 +299,8 @@ class Table(object):
         self._check_dropped()
         self.database._acquire()
         try:
-            if normalize_column_name(name) in self._normalized_columns:
+            name = normalize_column_name(name)
+            if name in self.columns:
                 log.debug("Column exists: %s" % name)
                 return
 
diff --git a/test/test_persistence.py b/test/test_persistence.py
index 64f9d85..b5789bf 100644
--- a/test/test_persistence.py
+++ b/test/test_persistence.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ class DatabaseTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         os.environ.setdefault('DATABASE_URL', 'sqlite:///:memory:')
         self.db = connect(os.environ['DATABASE_URL'])
+        for table in self.db.tables:
+            self.db[table].drop()
+        self.db.commit()
+        print 'XXX', self.db.tables
         self.tbl = self.db['weather']
         self.tbl.insert_many(TEST_DATA)
 
@@ -331,9 +335,9 @@ class TableTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         assert len(self.tbl) == len(data) + 6
 
     def test_drop_warning(self):
-        assert self.tbl._is_dropped is False, 'table shouldn\'t be dropped yet'
+        assert self.tbl.table is not None, 'table shouldn\'t be dropped yet'
         self.tbl.drop()
-        assert self.tbl._is_dropped is True, 'table should be dropped now'
+        assert self.tbl.table is None, 'table should be dropped now'
         try:
             list(self.tbl.all())
         except DatasetException: