diff --git a/pylib/anki/cards.py b/pylib/anki/cards.py
index 4e0fb5610..b229f17d5 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/cards.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/cards.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class Card:
         if self.id != 0:
             self.col.backend.update_card(card)
         else:
-            self.col.backend.add_card(card)
+            self.id = self.col.backend.add_card(card)
 
     def question(self, reload: bool = False, browser: bool = False) -> str:
         return self.css() + self.render_output(reload, browser).question_text
diff --git a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
index 33e9290c3..dd4778d8f 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
@@ -494,8 +494,9 @@ class RustBackend:
     def update_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> None:
         self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(update_card=card))
 
-    def add_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> None:
-        card.id = self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(add_card=card)).add_card
+    # returns the new card id
+    def add_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> int:
+        return self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(add_card=card)).add_card
 
     def get_deck_config(self, dcid: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         jstr = self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(get_deck_config=dcid)).get_deck_config