diff --git a/ftl/core/importing.ftl b/ftl/core/importing.ftl
index 3b9f7c401..b23d12654 100644
--- a/ftl/core/importing.ftl
+++ b/ftl/core/importing.ftl
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ importing-merge-notetypes-help =
     Warning: This will require a one-way sync, and may mark existing notes as modified.
 importing-mnemosyne-20-deck-db = Mnemosyne 2.0 Deck (*.db)
 importing-multicharacter-separators-are-not-supported-please = Multi-character separators are not supported. Please enter one character only.
+importing-new-deck-will-be-created = A new deck will be created: { $name }
 importing-notes-added-from-file = Notes added from file: { $val }
 importing-notes-found-in-file = Notes found in file: { $val }
 importing-notes-skipped-as-theyre-already-in = Notes skipped, as up-to-date copies are already in your collection: { $val }
diff --git a/proto/anki/import_export.proto b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
index 88a7ad163..3273a57bb 100644
--- a/proto/anki/import_export.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
@@ -176,9 +176,12 @@ message CsvMetadata {
   // to determine the number of columns.
   repeated string column_labels = 5;
   oneof deck {
+    // id of an existing deck
     int64 deck_id = 6;
     // One-based. 0 means n/a.
     uint32 deck_column = 7;
+    // name of new deck to be created
+    string deck_name = 17;
   }
   oneof notetype {
     // One notetype for all rows with given column mapping.
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
index f8422f6bd..e45bbca1b 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ impl CsvDeckExt for CsvDeck {
         match self {
             Self::DeckId(did) => NameOrId::Id(*did),
             Self::DeckColumn(_) => NameOrId::default(),
+            Self::DeckName(name) => NameOrId::Name(name.into()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ impl CsvDeckExt for CsvDeck {
         match self {
             Self::DeckId(_) => None,
             Self::DeckColumn(column) => Some(*column as usize),
+            Self::DeckName(_) => None,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs
index 7e2f64f5e..d505c60d2 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ impl Collection {
             "deck" => {
                 if let Ok(Some(did)) = self.deck_id_by_name_or_id(&NameOrId::parse(value)) {
                     metadata.deck = Some(CsvDeck::DeckId(did.0));
+                } else if !value.is_empty() {
+                    metadata.deck = Some(CsvDeck::DeckName(value.to_string()));
                 }
             }
             "notetype column" => {
@@ -626,6 +628,7 @@ pub(in crate::import_export) mod test {
     pub trait CsvMetadataTestExt {
         fn defaults_for_testing() -> Self;
         fn unwrap_deck_id(&self) -> i64;
+        fn unwrap_deck_name(&self) -> &str;
         fn unwrap_notetype_id(&self) -> i64;
         fn unwrap_notetype_map(&self) -> &[u32];
     }
@@ -660,6 +663,13 @@ pub(in crate::import_export) mod test {
             }
         }
 
+        fn unwrap_deck_name(&self) -> &str {
+            match &self.deck {
+                Some(CsvDeck::DeckName(name)) => name,
+                _ => panic!("no deck name"),
+            }
+        }
+
         fn unwrap_notetype_id(&self) -> i64 {
             match self.notetype {
                 Some(CsvNotetype::GlobalNotetype(ref nt)) => nt.id,
@@ -683,8 +693,11 @@ pub(in crate::import_export) mod test {
             metadata!(col, format!("#deck:{deck_id}\n")).unwrap_deck_id(),
             deck_id
         );
+        // unknown deck
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:foo\n").unwrap_deck_name(), "foo");
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:1234\n").unwrap_deck_name(), "1234");
         // fallback
-        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:foo\n").unwrap_deck_id(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:\n").unwrap_deck_id(), 1);
         assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "\n").unwrap_deck_id(), 1);
     }
 
@@ -726,8 +739,8 @@ pub(in crate::import_export) mod test {
             numeric_deck_2_id
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            metadata!(col, format!("#deck:1234\n")).unwrap_deck_id(),
-            1 // default deck
+            metadata!(col, format!("#deck:1234\n")).unwrap_deck_name(),
+            "1234"
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
index 4425bb386..202189eb6 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ impl Duplicate {
 }
 
 impl DeckIdsByNameOrId {
-    fn new(col: &mut Collection, default: &NameOrId) -> Result<Self> {
+    fn new(col: &mut Collection, default: &NameOrId, usn: Usn) -> Result<Self> {
         let names: HashMap<UniCase<String>, DeckId> = col
             .get_all_normal_deck_names(false)?
             .into_iter()
@@ -160,6 +160,13 @@ impl DeckIdsByNameOrId {
             default: None,
         };
         new.default = new.get(default);
+        if new.default.is_none() && *default != NameOrId::default() {
+            let mut deck = Deck::new_normal();
+            deck.name = NativeDeckName::from_human_name(default.to_string());
+            col.add_deck_inner(&mut deck, usn)?;
+            new.insert(deck.id, deck.human_name());
+            new.default = Some(deck.id);
+        }
 
         Ok(new)
     }
@@ -193,7 +200,7 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
             NameOrId::default(),
             col.notetype_by_name_or_id(&data.default_notetype)?,
         );
-        let deck_ids = DeckIdsByNameOrId::new(col, &data.default_deck)?;
+        let deck_ids = DeckIdsByNameOrId::new(col, &data.default_deck, usn)?;
         let existing_checksums = ExistingChecksums::new(col, data.match_scope)?;
         let existing_guids = col.storage.all_notes_by_guid()?;
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/mod.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/mod.rs
index e9e2da766..fdf94971a 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/mod.rs
@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ impl From<String> for NameOrId {
     }
 }
 
+impl std::fmt::Display for NameOrId {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            NameOrId::Id(did) => write!(f, "{did}"),
+            NameOrId::Name(name) => write!(f, "{name}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl ForeignNote {
     pub(crate) fn into_log_note(self) -> LogNote {
         LogNote {
diff --git a/ts/routes/import-csv/ImportOptions.svelte b/ts/routes/import-csv/ImportOptions.svelte
index 2acde50eb..5e7c76b28 100644
--- a/ts/routes/import-csv/ImportOptions.svelte
+++ b/ts/routes/import-csv/ImportOptions.svelte
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
     import { dupeResolutionChoices, matchScopeChoices } from "./choices";
     import type { ImportCsvState } from "./lib";
+    import Warning from "../deck-options/Warning.svelte";
 
     export let state: ImportCsvState;
 
     const metadata = state.metadata;
     const globalNotetype = state.globalNotetype;
     const deckId = state.deckId;
+    const deckName = state.newDeckName;
 
     const settings = {
         notetype: {
@@ -64,6 +66,22 @@ License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
         modal.show();
         carousel.to(index);
     }
+
+    const choices = state.deckNameIds.map(({ id, name }) => {
+        return { label: name, value: id };
+    });
+
+    if (deckName) {
+        choices.push({
+            label: deckName,
+            value: 0n,
+        });
+    }
+
+    $: newDeckCreationNotice =
+        deckName && $deckId === 0n
+            ? tr.importingNewDeckWillBeCreated({ name: deckName })
+            : "";
 </script>
 
 <TitledContainer title={tr.importingImportOptions()}>
@@ -95,13 +113,11 @@ License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
         </EnumSelectorRow>
     {/if}
 
-    {#if $deckId !== null}
+    {#if deckName || $deckId}
         <EnumSelectorRow
             bind:value={$deckId}
             defaultValue={state.defaultDeckId}
-            choices={state.deckNameIds.map(({ id, name }) => {
-                return { label: name, value: id };
-            })}
+            {choices}
         >
             <SettingTitle
                 on:click={() => openHelpModal(Object.keys(settings).indexOf("deck"))}
@@ -111,6 +127,8 @@ License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
         </EnumSelectorRow>
     {/if}
 
+    <Warning warning={newDeckCreationNotice} className="alert-info" />
+
     <EnumSelectorRow
         bind:value={$metadata.dupeResolution}
         defaultValue={0}
diff --git a/ts/routes/import-csv/lib.ts b/ts/routes/import-csv/lib.ts
index 45868d1af..ab3a7c608 100644
--- a/ts/routes/import-csv/lib.ts
+++ b/ts/routes/import-csv/lib.ts
@@ -22,8 +22,12 @@ export function getGlobalNotetype(meta: CsvMetadata): CsvMetadata_MappedNotetype
     return meta.notetype.case === "globalNotetype" ? meta.notetype.value : null;
 }
 
-export function getDeckId(meta: CsvMetadata): bigint | null {
-    return meta.deck.case === "deckId" ? meta.deck.value : null;
+export function getDeckId(meta: CsvMetadata): bigint {
+    return meta.deck.case === "deckId" ? meta.deck.value : 0n;
+}
+
+export function getDeckName(meta: CsvMetadata): string | null {
+    return meta.deck.case === "deckName" ? meta.deck.value : null;
 }
 
 export class ImportCsvState {
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ export class ImportCsvState {
     readonly defaultIsHtml: boolean;
     readonly defaultNotetypeId: bigint | null;
     readonly defaultDeckId: bigint | null;
+    readonly newDeckName: string | null;
 
     readonly metadata: Writable<CsvMetadata>;
     readonly globalNotetype: Writable<CsvMetadata_MappedNotetype | null>;
@@ -83,6 +88,7 @@ export class ImportCsvState {
         this.defaultIsHtml = metadata.isHtml;
         this.defaultNotetypeId = this.lastGlobalNotetype?.id || null;
         this.defaultDeckId = this.lastDeckId;
+        this.newDeckName = getDeckName(metadata);
     }
 
     doImport(): Promise<ImportResponse> {
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@ export class ImportCsvState {
                 path: this.path,
                 delimiter: changed.delimiter,
                 notetypeId: getGlobalNotetype(changed)?.id,
-                deckId: getDeckId(changed) ?? undefined,
+                deckId: getDeckId(changed) || undefined,
                 isHtml: changed.isHtml,
             });
             // carry over tags
@@ -157,7 +163,13 @@ export class ImportCsvState {
         this.lastDeckId = deckId;
         if (deckId !== null) {
             this.metadata.update((metadata) => {
-                metadata.deck.value = deckId;
+                if (deckId !== 0n) {
+                    metadata.deck.case = "deckId";
+                    metadata.deck.value = deckId;
+                } else {
+                    metadata.deck.case = "deckName";
+                    metadata.deck.value = this.newDeckName!;
+                }
                 return metadata;
             });
         }