diff --git a/google/cloud/datastore/batch.py b/google/cloud/datastore/batch.py
index 69100bc6..f54ae367 100644
--- a/google/cloud/datastore/batch.py
+++ b/google/cloud/datastore/batch.py
@@ -281,7 +281,9 @@ def begin(self):
 
         This method is called automatically when entering a with
         statement, however it can be called explicitly if you don't want
-        to use a context manager.
+        to use a context manager. If used outside a context manager,
+        `client.get` calls targeting the batch and commit/rollback calls
+        will need to be managed explicitly as well
 
         Overridden by :class:`google.cloud.datastore.transaction.Transaction`.
 
@@ -365,6 +367,10 @@ def rollback(self):
 
         Marks the batch as aborted (can't be used again).
 
+        This is called automatically upon exiting a with statement,
+        however it can be called explicitly if you don't want to use a
+        context manager.
+
         Overridden by :class:`google.cloud.datastore.transaction.Transaction`.
 
         :raises: :class:`~exceptions.ValueError` if the batch is not
diff --git a/google/cloud/datastore/client.py b/google/cloud/datastore/client.py
index ca3d4e0c..06422996 100644
--- a/google/cloud/datastore/client.py
+++ b/google/cloud/datastore/client.py
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ def _pop_batch(self):
 
     @property
     def current_batch(self):
-        """Currently-active batch.
+        """Currently-active batch, if within the scope of a Batch context manager.
 
         :rtype: :class:`google.cloud.datastore.batch.Batch`, or an object
                 implementing its API, or ``NoneType`` (if no batch is active).
@@ -417,7 +417,8 @@ def current_batch(self):
 
     @property
     def current_transaction(self):
-        """Currently-active transaction.
+        """Currently-active transaction, if within the scope of a Transaction
+        context manager.
 
         :rtype: :class:`google.cloud.datastore.transaction.Transaction`, or an
                 object implementing its API, or ``NoneType`` (if no transaction
diff --git a/google/cloud/datastore/transaction.py b/google/cloud/datastore/transaction.py
index 52c17ce2..f8d8eeed 100644
--- a/google/cloud/datastore/transaction.py
+++ b/google/cloud/datastore/transaction.py
@@ -212,7 +212,9 @@ def begin(self, retry=None, timeout=None):
 
         This method is called automatically when entering a with
         statement, however it can be called explicitly if you don't want
-        to use a context manager.
+        to use a context manager. If used outside a context manager,
+        `client.get` calls targeting the transaction and commit/rollback calls
+        will need to be managed explicitly as well.
 
         :type retry: :class:`google.api_core.retry.Retry`
         :param retry:
diff --git a/tests/system/test_transaction.py b/tests/system/test_transaction.py
index 2f7a6897..04d70c9f 100644
--- a/tests/system/test_transaction.py
+++ b/tests/system/test_transaction.py
@@ -148,15 +148,53 @@ def test_failure_with_contention(datastore_client, entities_to_delete, database_
 
     entities_to_delete.append(orig_entity)
 
-    with pytest.raises(Conflict):
-        with local_client.transaction() as txn:
-            entity_in_txn = local_client.get(key)
+    with local_client.transaction() as txn:
+        entity_in_txn = local_client.get(key)
 
-            # Update the original entity outside the transaction.
-            orig_entity[contention_prop_name] = "outside"
+        # Update the original entity outside the transaction.
+        orig_entity[contention_prop_name] = "outside"
+        with pytest.raises(Conflict):
             datastore_client.put(orig_entity)
 
-            # Try to update the entity which we already updated outside the
-            # transaction.
-            entity_in_txn[contention_prop_name] = "inside"
-            txn.put(entity_in_txn)
+        # Try to update the entity which we already updated outside the
+        # transaction.
+        entity_in_txn[contention_prop_name] = "inside"
+        txn.put(entity_in_txn)
+    # now that transaction is complete, should be able to update outside
+    datastore_client.put(orig_entity)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("database_id", [None, _helpers.TEST_DATABASE], indirect=True)
+def test_failure_with_contention_no_context_manager(
+    datastore_client, entities_to_delete, database_id
+):
+    contention_prop_name = "baz"
+    local_client = _helpers.clone_client(datastore_client)
+
+    # Insert an entity which will be retrieved in a transaction
+    # and updated outside it with a contentious value.
+    key = local_client.key("BreakTxnCM3", 1234)
+    orig_entity = datastore.Entity(key=key)
+    orig_entity["foo"] = "bar"
+    local_client.put(orig_entity)
+
+    entities_to_delete.append(orig_entity)
+
+    txn = local_client.transaction()
+    txn.begin()
+
+    entity_in_txn = local_client.get(key, transaction=txn)
+
+    # Update the original entity outside the transaction.
+    # should fail due to contention
+    orig_entity[contention_prop_name] = "outside"
+    with pytest.raises(Conflict):
+        datastore_client.put(orig_entity)
+
+    # Try to update the entity inside the transaction
+    entity_in_txn[contention_prop_name] = "inside"
+    txn.put(entity_in_txn)
+    txn.commit()
+
+    # now that transaction is complete, should be able to update outside
+    datastore_client.put(orig_entity)