diff --git a/changelog/fix_false_negative_for_transaction_exit_with_rescue.md b/changelog/fix_false_negative_for_transaction_exit_with_rescue.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c9ecc3368d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fix_false_negative_for_transaction_exit_with_rescue.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+* [#695](https://github.com/rubocop/rubocop-rails/pull/695): Fixes a false negative where the `in_rescue?` check would bypass situations where the return was inside a transaction but outside of a rescue. ([@dorkrawk][])
diff --git a/lib/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement.rb b/lib/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement.rb
index 373d9403d9..7972f9b18b 100644
--- a/lib/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement.rb
+++ b/lib/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement.rb
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ class TransactionExitStatement < Base
           ({return | break | send nil? :throw} ...)
         PATTERN
 
+        def_node_matcher :rescue_body_return_node?, <<~PATTERN
+          (:resbody ...
+            ...
+            ({return | break | send nil? :throw} ...)
+            ...
+          )
+        PATTERN
+
         def on_send(node)
           return unless (parent = node.parent)
           return unless parent.block_type? && parent.body
@@ -80,7 +88,7 @@ def statement(statement_node)
         end
 
         def in_rescue?(statement_node)
-          statement_node.ancestors.find(&:rescue_type?)
+          statement_node.ancestors.any? { |n| rescue_body_return_node?(n) }
         end
 
         def nested_block?(statement_node)
diff --git a/spec/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement_spec.rb b/spec/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement_spec.rb
index 953e19a2d2..f4bb0e6416 100644
--- a/spec/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rubocop/cop/rails/transaction_exit_statement_spec.rb
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@
     RUBY
   end
 
+  it 'registers an officense when `return` is used outside of a `rescue`' do
+    expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+      ApplicationRecord.transaction do
+        return if user.active?
+        ^^^^^^ Exit statement `return` is not allowed. Use `raise` (rollback) or `next` (commit).
+      rescue
+        pass
+      end
+    RUBY
+  end
+
   it 'does not register an offense when transaction block is empty' do
     expect_no_offenses(<<~RUBY)
       ApplicationRecord.transaction do