diff --git a/mbuild/lattice.py b/mbuild/lattice.py
index 791ba0aed..b2a85fbe1 100644
--- a/mbuild/lattice.py
+++ b/mbuild/lattice.py
@@ -625,6 +625,7 @@ def populate(self, compound_dict=None, x=1, y=1, z=1):
         ret_lattice = mb.Compound()
 
         # Create (clone) a mb.Compound for the newly generate positions
+        compoundsList = []  # particles to add at the end
         elementsSet = set()
         if compound_dict is None:
             for key_id, all_pos in cell.items():
@@ -641,7 +642,7 @@ def populate(self, compound_dict=None, x=1, y=1, z=1):
                 for pos in all_pos:
                     particle_to_add = mb.clone(particle)
                     particle_to_add.translate_to(list(pos))
-                    ret_lattice.add(particle_to_add)
+                    compoundsList.append(particle_to_add)
         else:
             for key_id, all_pos in cell.items():
                 if isinstance(compound_dict[key_id], mb.Compound):
@@ -649,7 +650,7 @@ def populate(self, compound_dict=None, x=1, y=1, z=1):
                     for pos in all_pos:
                         tmp_comp = mb.clone(compound_to_move)
                         tmp_comp.translate_to(list(pos))
-                        ret_lattice.add(tmp_comp)
+                        compoundsList.append(tmp_comp)
                 else:
                     err_type = type(compound_dict.get(key_id))
                     raise TypeError(
@@ -661,7 +662,7 @@ def populate(self, compound_dict=None, x=1, y=1, z=1):
             warnings.warn(
                 f"Element assumed from cif file to be {element}.", UserWarning
             )
-
+        ret_lattice.add(compoundsList)
         # Create mbuild.box
         ret_lattice.box = mb.Box(
             lengths=[a * x, b * y, c * z], angles=self.angles