diff --git a/spring-jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/datasource/JdbcTransactionObjectSupport.java b/spring-jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/datasource/JdbcTransactionObjectSupport.java
index 61ff2c57232c..e1d98f1310a3 100644
--- a/spring-jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/datasource/JdbcTransactionObjectSupport.java
+++ b/spring-jdbc/src/main/java/org/springframework/jdbc/datasource/JdbcTransactionObjectSupport.java
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ public void releaseSavepoint(Object savepoint) throws TransactionException {
 			conHolder.getConnection().releaseSavepoint((Savepoint) savepoint);
 		}
 		catch (Throwable ex) {
-			logger.debug("Could not explicitly release JDBC savepoint", ex);
+			throw new TransactionSystemException("Could not explicitly release JDBC savepoint", ex);
 		}
 	}