diff --git a/pylib/anki/cards.py b/pylib/anki/cards.py
index b7f845e83..75ff244f5 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/cards.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/cards.py
@@ -178,10 +178,8 @@ class Card:
         total = int((time.time() - self.timerStarted) * 1000)
         return min(total, self.timeLimit())
 
-    def isEmpty(self) -> Optional[bool]:
-        ords = self.col.models.availOrds(self.model(), joinFields(self.note().fields))
-        if self.ord not in ords:
-            return True
+    # legacy
+    def isEmpty(self) -> bool:
         return False
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
diff --git a/pylib/anki/models.py b/pylib/anki/models.py
index 4f31e56f3..5f3a31a7f 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/models.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/models.py
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ class ModelManager:
     # Required field/text cache
     ##########################################################################
 
-    # fixme: clayout, importing, cards.isEmpty
+    # fixme: clayout, importing
     def availOrds(self, m: NoteType, flds: str) -> List:
         "Given a joined field string, return available template ordinals."
         if m["type"] == MODEL_CLOZE:
diff --git a/qt/aqt/reviewer.py b/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
index 743cc3087..b03291409 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/reviewer.py
@@ -180,14 +180,7 @@ class Reviewer:
         self.typedAnswer: str = None
         c = self.card
         # grab the question and play audio
-        if c.isEmpty():
-            q = _(
-                """\
-The front of this card is empty. Please run Tools>Empty Cards."""
-            )
-        else:
-            q = c.q()
-
+        q = c.q()
         # play audio?
         if c.autoplay():
             av_player.play_tags(c.question_av_tags())
diff --git a/rslib/src/template.rs b/rslib/src/template.rs
index 7ec6d0a01..c38be0bfa 100644
--- a/rslib/src/template.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/template.rs
@@ -532,19 +532,19 @@ pub fn render_card(
     };
 
     // question side
-    let (qnodes, qtmpl) = ParsedTemplate::from_text(qfmt)
+    let (mut qnodes, qtmpl) = ParsedTemplate::from_text(qfmt)
         .and_then(|tmpl| Ok((tmpl.render(&context)?, tmpl)))
         .map_err(|e| template_error_to_anki_error(e, true, i18n))?;
 
     // check if the front side was empty
     if !qtmpl.renders_with_fields(context.nonempty_fields) {
         let info = format!(
-            "{}<br><a href='{}'>{}</a>",
+            "<div>{}<br><a href='{}'>{}</a></div>",
             i18n.tr(TR::CardTemplateRenderingEmptyFront),
             TEMPLATE_BLANK_LINK,
             i18n.tr(TR::CardTemplateRenderingMoreInfo)
         );
-        return Err(AnkiError::TemplateError { info });
+        qnodes.push(RenderedNode::Text { text: info });
     };
 
     // answer side
@@ -728,7 +728,11 @@ fn nodes_to_string(buf: &mut String, nodes: &[ParsedNode]) {
 mod test {
     use super::{FieldMap, ParsedNode::*, ParsedTemplate as PT};
     use crate::err::TemplateError;
-    use crate::template::{field_is_empty, nonempty_fields, FieldRequirements, RenderContext};
+    use crate::{
+        i18n::I18n,
+        log,
+        template::{field_is_empty, nonempty_fields, FieldRequirements, RenderContext},
+    };
     use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
     use std::iter::FromIterator;
 
@@ -1012,4 +1016,30 @@ mod test {
             }]
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn render_card() {
+        let map: HashMap<_, _> = vec![("E", "")]
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|r| (r.0, r.1.into()))
+            .collect();
+
+        let i18n = I18n::new(&[""], "", log::terminal());
+        use crate::template::RenderedNode as FN;
+
+        let qnodes = super::render_card("test{{E}}", "", &map, 1, &i18n)
+            .unwrap()
+            .0;
+        assert_eq!(
+            qnodes[0],
+            FN::Text {
+                text: "test".into()
+            }
+        );
+        if let FN::Text { ref text } = qnodes[1] {
+            assert!(text.contains("card is blank"));
+        } else {
+            assert!(false);
+        }
+    }
 }