diff --git a/ftl/core/errors.ftl b/ftl/core/errors.ftl
index 01d084d8c..f1a4c5934 100644
--- a/ftl/core/errors.ftl
+++ b/ftl/core/errors.ftl
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ errors-100-tags-max =
     tags you want instead of the ones you don't want is usually simpler, and there
     is no need to select child tags if you have selected a parent tag.
 errors-multiple-notetypes-selected = Please select notes from only one notetype.
+errors-please-check-database = Please use the Check Database action, then try again.
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/error.rs b/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
index c548d5966..8a5e8e676 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ impl AnkiError {
             AnkiError::InvalidRegex(_) => Kind::InvalidInput,
             AnkiError::UndoEmpty => Kind::UndoEmpty,
             AnkiError::MultipleNotetypesSelected => Kind::InvalidInput,
+            AnkiError::DatabaseCheckRequired => Kind::InvalidInput,
         };
 
         pb::BackendError {
diff --git a/rslib/src/browser_table.rs b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
index 634729db5..9e7e64d06 100644
--- a/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/browser_table.rs
@@ -260,6 +260,9 @@ impl RowContext {
         if notes_mode {
             note = col.get_note_maybe_with_fields(NoteId(id), with_card_render)?;
             cards = col.storage.all_cards_of_note(note.id)?;
+            if cards.is_empty() {
+                return Err(AnkiError::DatabaseCheckRequired);
+            }
         } else {
             cards = vec![col
                 .storage
diff --git a/rslib/src/error/mod.rs b/rslib/src/error/mod.rs
index d0014e114..324976a16 100644
--- a/rslib/src/error/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/error/mod.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ pub enum AnkiError {
     InvalidRegex(String),
     UndoEmpty,
     MultipleNotetypesSelected,
+    DatabaseCheckRequired,
 }
 
 impl Display for AnkiError {
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ impl AnkiError {
             AnkiError::FilteredDeckError(err) => err.localized_description(tr),
             AnkiError::InvalidRegex(err) => format!("<pre>{}</pre>", err),
             AnkiError::MultipleNotetypesSelected => tr.errors_multiple_notetypes_selected().into(),
+            AnkiError::DatabaseCheckRequired => tr.errors_please_check_database().into(),
             AnkiError::IoError(_)
             | AnkiError::JsonError(_)
             | AnkiError::ProtoError(_)