diff --git a/pylib/anki/collection.py b/pylib/anki/collection.py
index 8d33d1c3c..3de9c0111 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/collection.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/collection.py
@@ -668,6 +668,10 @@ where c.nid = n.id and c.id in %s group by nid"""
         hooks.run_modify_fields_for_rendering_hook(fields, model, data)
         fields = runFilter("mungeFields", fields, model, data, self)  # legacy
 
+        # and the template prior to rendering
+        qfmt = hooks.run_original_card_template_filter(qfmt, True)
+        afmt = hooks.run_original_card_template_filter(qfmt, False)
+
         # render fields
         qatext = render_card(self, qfmt, afmt, fields, card_ord)
         ret: Dict[str, Any] = dict(q=qatext[0], a=qatext[1], id=card_id)
diff --git a/pylib/anki/hooks.py b/pylib/anki/hooks.py
index b15712e46..88713873d 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/hooks.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/hooks.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ modify_fields_for_rendering_hook: List[
 ] = []
 note_type_created_hook: List[Callable[[Dict[str, Any]], None]] = []
 odue_invalid_hook: List[Callable[[], None]] = []
+original_card_template_filter: List[Callable[[str, bool], str]] = []
 prepare_searches_hook: List[Callable[[Dict[str, Callable]], None]] = []
 remove_notes_hook: List[Callable[[anki.storage._Collection, List[int]], None]] = []
 rendered_card_template_filter: List[
@@ -183,6 +184,17 @@ def run_odue_invalid_hook() -> None:
             raise
 
 
+def run_original_card_template_filter(template: str, question_side: bool) -> str:
+    for filter in original_card_template_filter:
+        try:
+            template = filter(template, question_side)
+        except:
+            # if the hook fails, remove it
+            original_card_template_filter.remove(filter)
+            raise
+    return template
+
+
 def run_prepare_searches_hook(searches: Dict[str, Callable]) -> None:
     for hook in prepare_searches_hook:
         try:
diff --git a/pylib/tools/genhooks.py b/pylib/tools/genhooks.py
index e55e6d03f..cee64c4b4 100644
--- a/pylib/tools/genhooks.py
+++ b/pylib/tools/genhooks.py
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ hooks = [
         name="modify_fields_for_rendering",
         args=["fields: Dict[str, str]", "notetype: Dict[str, Any]", "data: QAData",],
     ),
+    Hook(
+        name="original_card_template",
+        args=["template: str", "question_side: bool"],
+        return_type="str",
+    ),
     Hook(
         name="rendered_card_template",
         args=[