diff --git a/qt/aqt/clayout.py b/qt/aqt/clayout.py
index 48c6e0661..88adc5060 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/clayout.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/clayout.py
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ Enter deck to place new %s cards in, or leave blank:"""
             try:
                 fut.result()
             except TemplateError as e:
-                showWarning("Unable to save changes: " + str(e))
+                showWarning(str(e))
                 return
             self.mw.reset()
             tooltip("Changes saved.", parent=self.parent())
diff --git a/rslib/ftl/card-templates.ftl b/rslib/ftl/card-templates.ftl
index addf38156..7a0a13672 100644
--- a/rslib/ftl/card-templates.ftl
+++ b/rslib/ftl/card-templates.ftl
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ card-templates-preview-box = Preview
 card-templates-template-box = Template
 card-templates-sample-cloze = This is a {"{{c1::"}sample{"}}"} cloze deletion.
 card-templates-fill-empty = Fill Empty Fields
+card-templates-invalid-template-number = Please correct the problems on card template { $number } first.
+
+
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
index 540e2184d..6dab3ee07 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ fn anki_error_to_proto_error(err: AnkiError, i18n: &I18n) -> pb::BackendError {
         AnkiError::Existing => V::Exists(Empty {}),
         AnkiError::DeckIsFiltered => V::DeckIsFiltered(Empty {}),
         AnkiError::SearchError(_) => V::InvalidInput(pb::Empty {}),
+        AnkiError::TemplateSaveError { .. } => V::TemplateParse(pb::Empty {}),
     };
 
     pb::BackendError {
diff --git a/rslib/src/err.rs b/rslib/src/err.rs
index fe243278e..6650ceacf 100644
--- a/rslib/src/err.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/err.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
-use crate::i18n::{tr_strs, I18n, TR};
+use crate::i18n::{tr_args, tr_strs, I18n, TR};
 pub use failure::{Error, Fail};
 use reqwest::StatusCode;
 use std::io;
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ pub enum AnkiError {
     #[fail(display = "invalid card template: {}", info)]
     TemplateError { info: String },
 
+    #[fail(display = "unable to save template {}", ordinal)]
+    TemplateSaveError { ordinal: usize },
+
     #[fail(display = "I/O error: {}", info)]
     IOError { info: String },
 
@@ -107,6 +110,10 @@ impl AnkiError {
                 // already localized
                 info.into()
             }
+            AnkiError::TemplateSaveError { ordinal } => i18n.trn(
+                TR::CardTemplatesInvalidTemplateNumber,
+                tr_args!["number"=>ordinal+1],
+            ),
             AnkiError::DBError { info, kind } => match kind {
                 DBErrorKind::Corrupt => info.clone(),
                 DBErrorKind::Locked => "Anki already open, or media currently syncing.".into(),
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
index 234c20869..57ce56d2d 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
@@ -229,9 +229,7 @@ impl NoteType {
                 }
             });
         if let Some(idx) = invalid_card_idx {
-            return Err(AnkiError::TemplateError {
-                info: format!("invalid card {}", idx + 1),
-            });
+            return Err(AnkiError::TemplateSaveError { ordinal: idx });
         }
         let reqs = self.updated_requirements(&parsed_templates);