diff --git a/org.springframework.jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/object/SqlUpdate.java b/org.springframework.jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/object/SqlUpdate.java
index d077fa63b08..27a108b043f 100644
--- a/org.springframework.jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/object/SqlUpdate.java
+++ b/org.springframework.jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/object/SqlUpdate.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import javax.sql.DataSource;
 
 import org.springframework.dao.DataAccessException;
+import org.springframework.dao.InvalidDataAccessApiUsageException;
 import org.springframework.jdbc.JdbcUpdateAffectedIncorrectNumberOfRowsException;
 import org.springframework.jdbc.core.namedparam.MapSqlParameterSource;
 import org.springframework.jdbc.core.namedparam.NamedParameterUtils;
@@ -177,6 +178,12 @@ public class SqlUpdate extends SqlOperation {
 	 * @return the number of rows affected by the update
 	 */
 	public int update(Object[] params, KeyHolder generatedKeyHolder) throws DataAccessException {
+		if (!isReturnGeneratedKeys() && getGeneratedKeysColumnNames() == null) {
+			throw new InvalidDataAccessApiUsageException(
+					"The update method taking a KeyHolder should only be used when generated keys have " +
+					"been configured by calling either 'setReturnGeneratedKeys' or " +
+					"'setGeneratedKeysColumnNames'.");
+		}
 		validateParameters(params);
 		int rowsAffected = getJdbcTemplate().update(newPreparedStatementCreator(params), generatedKeyHolder);
 		checkRowsAffected(rowsAffected);