diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/db.py b/python/python/lancedb/db.py
index 71073a28..62be2042 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/db.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/db.py
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ class AsyncConnection(object):
             fill_value = 0.0
 
         if data is not None:
-            data = _sanitize_data(
+            data, schema = _sanitize_data(
                 data,
                 schema,
                 metadata=metadata,
diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py b/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
index 66e01360..6f51f79e 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):
             schema = schema.to_arrow_schema()
 
         if data is not None:
-            data = _sanitize_data(
+            data, schema = _sanitize_data(
                 data,
                 schema,
                 metadata=None,
diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/remote/table.py b/python/python/lancedb/remote/table.py
index 68fb0ed4..8e4ff5d5 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/remote/table.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/remote/table.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
             The value to use when filling vectors. Only used if on_bad_vectors="fill".
 
         """
-        data = _sanitize_data(
+        data, _ = _sanitize_data(
             data,
             self.schema,
             metadata=None,
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
         on_bad_vectors: str,
         fill_value: float,
     ):
-        data = _sanitize_data(
+        data, _ = _sanitize_data(
             new_data,
             self.schema,
             metadata=None,
diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/table.py b/python/python/lancedb/table.py
index 61a8f7e8..4a31e340 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/table.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/table.py
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ def _sanitize_data(
     if isinstance(data, list):
         # convert to list of dict if data is a bunch of LanceModels
         if isinstance(data[0], LanceModel):
-            schema = data[0].__class__.to_arrow_schema()
+            if schema is None:
+                schema = data[0].__class__.to_arrow_schema()
             data = [model_to_dict(d) for d in data]
             data = pa.Table.from_pylist(data, schema=schema)
         else:
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ def _sanitize_data(
         )
     else:
         raise TypeError(f"Unsupported data type: {type(data)}")
-    return data
+    return data, schema
 
 
 def _schema_from_hf(data, schema):
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ def _to_record_batch_generator(
         # and do things like add the vector column etc
         if isinstance(batch, pa.RecordBatch):
             batch = pa.Table.from_batches([batch])
-        batch = _sanitize_data(batch, schema, metadata, on_bad_vectors, fill_value)
+        batch, _ = _sanitize_data(batch, schema, metadata, on_bad_vectors, fill_value)
         for b in batch.to_batches():
             yield b
 
@@ -1295,7 +1296,7 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
             The number of vectors in the table.
         """
         # TODO: manage table listing and metadata separately
-        data = _sanitize_data(
+        data, _ = _sanitize_data(
             data,
             self.schema,
             metadata=self.schema.metadata,
@@ -1547,7 +1548,7 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
             metadata = registry.get_table_metadata(embedding_functions)
 
         if data is not None:
-            data = _sanitize_data(
+            data, schema = _sanitize_data(
                 data,
                 schema,
                 metadata=metadata,
@@ -1675,7 +1676,7 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
         on_bad_vectors: str,
         fill_value: float,
     ):
-        new_data = _sanitize_data(
+        new_data, _ = _sanitize_data(
             new_data,
             self.schema,
             metadata=self.schema.metadata,
@@ -2153,7 +2154,7 @@ class AsyncTable:
             on_bad_vectors = "error"
         if fill_value is None:
             fill_value = 0.0
-        data = _sanitize_data(
+        data, _ = _sanitize_data(
             data,
             schema,
             metadata=schema.metadata,
diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_huggingface.py b/python/python/tests/test_huggingface.py
index b5377149..ea4d39b2 100644
--- a/python/python/tests/test_huggingface.py
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_huggingface.py
@@ -124,3 +124,17 @@ def test_bad_hf_dataset(tmp_path: Path, mock_embedding_function, hf_dataset_with
     # this should still work because we don't add the split column
     # if it already exists
     train_table.add(hf_dataset_with_split)
+
+
+def test_generator(tmp_path: Path):
+    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
+
+    def gen():
+        yield {"pokemon": "bulbasaur", "type": "grass"}
+        yield {"pokemon": "squirtle", "type": "water"}
+
+    ds = datasets.Dataset.from_generator(gen)
+    tbl = db.create_table("pokemon", ds)
+
+    assert len(tbl) == 2
+    assert tbl.schema == ds.features.arrow_schema