diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index aa5df83..1207291 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## Unreleased
+
+### Added
+
+- Better error handling when the trigger record is non-existent.
+
 ## [0.15.0] - 2025-01-01
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/lib/carbonite/migrations.ex b/lib/carbonite/migrations.ex
index 43b56ed..4890e04 100644
--- a/lib/carbonite/migrations.ex
+++ b/lib/carbonite/migrations.ex
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ defmodule Carbonite.Migrations do
   # --------------------------------- patch levels ---------------------------------
 
   @initial_patch 1
-  @current_patch 11
+  @current_patch 12
 
   @doc false
   @spec initial_patch :: non_neg_integer()
diff --git a/lib/carbonite/migrations/v11.ex b/lib/carbonite/migrations/v11.ex
index d420ea7..a2ba244 100644
--- a/lib/carbonite/migrations/v11.ex
+++ b/lib/carbonite/migrations/v11.ex
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ defmodule Carbonite.Migrations.V11 do
 
   @type prefix :: binary()
 
-  defp create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix) do
+  @spec create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix) :: :ok
+  def create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix) do
     """
     CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION #{prefix}.capture_changes() RETURNS TRIGGER AS
     $body$
diff --git a/lib/carbonite/migrations/v12.ex b/lib/carbonite/migrations/v12.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c7a5cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/carbonite/migrations/v12.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+defmodule Carbonite.Migrations.V12 do
+  @moduledoc false
+
+  use Ecto.Migration
+  use Carbonite.Migrations.Version
+  alias Carbonite.Migrations.V11
+
+  @type prefix :: binary()
+
+  defp create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix) do
+    """
+    CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION #{prefix}.capture_changes() RETURNS TRIGGER AS
+    $body$
+    DECLARE
+      trigger_row RECORD;
+      change_row #{prefix}.changes;
+
+      pk_source RECORD;
+      pk_col VARCHAR;
+      pk_col_val VARCHAR;
+    BEGIN
+      /* load trigger config */
+      WITH settings AS (SELECT NULLIF(current_setting('#{prefix}.override_mode', TRUE), '')::TEXT AS override_mode)
+      SELECT
+        primary_key_columns,
+        excluded_columns,
+        filtered_columns,
+        CASE
+          WHEN settings.override_mode = 'override' AND mode = 'ignore' THEN 'capture'
+          WHEN settings.override_mode = 'override' AND mode = 'capture' THEN 'ignore'
+          ELSE COALESCE(settings.override_mode, mode::text)
+        END AS mode,
+        store_changed_from
+      INTO trigger_row
+      FROM #{prefix}.triggers
+      JOIN settings ON TRUE
+      WHERE table_prefix = TG_TABLE_SCHEMA AND table_name = TG_TABLE_NAME;
+
+      IF (trigger_row IS NULL) THEN
+        RAISE '(carbonite) % on table %.% but no trigger record in #{prefix}.triggers',
+          TG_OP, TG_TABLE_SCHEMA, TG_TABLE_NAME USING ERRCODE = 'no_data_found';
+      END IF;
+
+      /* skip if ignored */
+      IF (trigger_row.mode = 'ignore') THEN
+        RETURN NULL;
+      END IF;
+
+      /* instantiate change row */
+      change_row := ROW(
+        NEXTVAL('#{prefix}.changes_id_seq'),
+        pg_current_xact_id(),
+        LOWER(TG_OP::TEXT),
+        TG_TABLE_SCHEMA::TEXT,
+        TG_TABLE_NAME::TEXT,
+        NULL,
+        NULL,
+        '{}',
+        NULL,
+        NULL
+      );
+
+      /* collect table pk */
+      IF trigger_row.primary_key_columns != '{}' THEN
+        IF (TG_OP IN ('INSERT', 'UPDATE')) THEN
+          pk_source := NEW;
+        ELSIF (TG_OP = 'DELETE') THEN
+          pk_source := OLD;
+        END IF;
+
+        change_row.table_pk = '{}';
+        FOREACH pk_col IN ARRAY trigger_row.primary_key_columns LOOP
+          EXECUTE 'SELECT $1.' || quote_ident(pk_col) || '::TEXT' USING pk_source INTO pk_col_val;
+          change_row.table_pk := change_row.table_pk || pk_col_val;
+        END LOOP;
+      END IF;
+
+      /* collect version data */
+      IF (TG_OP IN ('INSERT', 'UPDATE')) THEN
+        SELECT to_jsonb(NEW.*) - trigger_row.excluded_columns
+        INTO change_row.data;
+      ELSIF (TG_OP = 'DELETE') THEN
+        SELECT to_jsonb(OLD.*) - trigger_row.excluded_columns
+        INTO change_row.data;
+      END IF;
+
+      /* change tracking for UPDATEs */
+      IF (TG_OP = 'UPDATE') THEN
+        change_row.changed_from = '{}'::JSONB;
+
+        SELECT jsonb_object_agg(before.key, before.value)
+        FROM jsonb_each(to_jsonb(OLD.*) - trigger_row.excluded_columns) AS before
+        WHERE (change_row.data->before.key)::JSONB != before.value
+        INTO change_row.changed_from;
+
+        SELECT ARRAY(SELECT jsonb_object_keys(change_row.changed_from))
+        INTO change_row.changed;
+
+        /* skip persisting this update if nothing has changed */
+        IF change_row.changed = '{}' THEN
+          RETURN NULL;
+        END IF;
+
+        /* persisting the old data is opt-in, discard if not configured. */
+        IF trigger_row.store_changed_from IS FALSE THEN
+          change_row.changed_from := NULL;
+        END IF;
+      END IF;
+
+      /* filtered columns */
+      SELECT #{prefix}.jsonb_redact_keys(change_row.data, trigger_row.filtered_columns)
+      INTO change_row.data;
+
+      IF change_row.changed_from IS NOT NULL THEN
+        SELECT #{prefix}.jsonb_redact_keys(change_row.changed_from, trigger_row.filtered_columns)
+        INTO change_row.changed_from;
+      END IF;
+
+      /* insert, fail gracefully unless transaction record present or NEXTVAL has never been called */
+      BEGIN
+        change_row.transaction_id = CURRVAL('#{prefix}.transactions_id_seq');
+
+        /* verify that xact_id matches */
+        IF NOT
+          EXISTS(
+            SELECT 1 FROM #{prefix}.transactions
+            WHERE id = change_row.transaction_id AND xact_id = change_row.transaction_xact_id
+          )
+        THEN
+          RAISE USING ERRCODE = 'foreign_key_violation';
+        END IF;
+
+        INSERT INTO #{prefix}.changes VALUES (change_row.*);
+      EXCEPTION WHEN foreign_key_violation OR object_not_in_prerequisite_state THEN
+          RAISE '(carbonite) % on table %.% without prior INSERT into #{prefix}.transactions',
+            TG_OP, TG_TABLE_SCHEMA, TG_TABLE_NAME USING ERRCODE = 'foreign_key_violation';
+      END;
+
+      RETURN NULL;
+    END;
+    $body$
+    LANGUAGE plpgsql;
+    """
+    |> squish_and_execute()
+
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  @type up_option :: {:carbonite_prefix, prefix()}
+
+  @impl true
+  @spec up([up_option()]) :: :ok
+  def up(opts) do
+    prefix = Keyword.get(opts, :carbonite_prefix, default_prefix())
+
+    create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix)
+
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  @type down_option :: {:carbonite_prefix, prefix()}
+
+  @impl true
+  @spec down([down_option()]) :: :ok
+  def down(opts) do
+    prefix = Keyword.get(opts, :carbonite_prefix, default_prefix())
+
+    V11.create_capture_changes_procedure(prefix)
+
+    :ok
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/capture_test.exs b/test/capture_test.exs
index 7687179..69d6099 100644
--- a/test/capture_test.exs
+++ b/test/capture_test.exs
@@ -438,4 +438,19 @@ defmodule CaptureTest do
       assert [%{"op" => "insert"}] = select_changes()
     end
   end
+
+  test "missing trigger row lets the trigger function error gracefully" do
+    msg =
+      "ERROR P0002 (no_data_found) (carbonite) INSERT on table public.rabbits " <>
+        "but no trigger record in carbonite_default.triggers"
+
+    TestRepo.transaction(fn ->
+      insert_transaction()
+      query!("DELETE FROM carbonite_default.triggers;")
+
+      assert_raise Postgrex.Error, msg, fn ->
+        insert_jack()
+      end
+    end)
+  end
 end