diff --git a/datajoint/autopopulate.py b/datajoint/autopopulate.py
index 4f2a5f22..0e16ee29 100644
--- a/datajoint/autopopulate.py
+++ b/datajoint/autopopulate.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 def _initialize_populate(table, jobs, populate_kwargs):
     """
-    Initialize the process for mulitprocessing.
+    Initialize the process for multiprocessing.
     Saves the unpickled copy of the table to the current process and reconnects.
     """
     process = mp.current_process()
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ def _jobs_to_do(self, restrictions):
     def populate(
         self,
         *restrictions,
+        keys=None,
         suppress_errors=False,
         return_exception_objects=False,
         reserve_jobs=False,
@@ -169,6 +170,8 @@ def populate(
 
         :param restrictions: a list of restrictions each restrict
             (table.key_source - target.proj())
+        :param keys: The list of keys (dicts) to send to self.make().
+            If None (default), then use self.key_source to query they keys.
         :param suppress_errors: if True, do not terminate execution.
         :param return_exception_objects: return error objects instead of just error messages
         :param reserve_jobs: if True, reserve jobs to populate in asynchronous fashion
@@ -206,7 +209,10 @@ def handler(signum, frame):
 
             old_handler = signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, handler)
 
-        keys = (self._jobs_to_do(restrictions) - self.target).fetch("KEY", limit=limit)
+        if keys is None:
+            keys = (self._jobs_to_do(restrictions) - self.target).fetch(
+                "KEY", limit=limit
+            )
 
         # exclude "error", "ignore" or "reserved" jobs
         if reserve_jobs:
@@ -295,6 +301,7 @@ def _populate1(
         :return: (key, error) when suppress_errors=True,
             True if successfully invoke one `make()` call, otherwise False
         """
+        # use the legacy `_make_tuples` callback.
         make = self._make_tuples if hasattr(self, "_make_tuples") else self.make
 
         if jobs is not None and not jobs.reserve(
diff --git a/datajoint/table.py b/datajoint/table.py
index 96e38082..1ad4177a 100644
--- a/datajoint/table.py
+++ b/datajoint/table.py
@@ -644,6 +644,8 @@ def cascade(table):
                 logger.warn("Nothing to delete.")
             if transaction:
                 self.connection.cancel_transaction()
+        elif not transaction:
+            logger.info("Delete completed")
         else:
             if not safemode or user_choice("Commit deletes?", default="no") == "yes":
                 if transaction: