diff --git a/proto/backend.proto b/proto/backend.proto
index ad16f6bed..69a0480d9 100644
--- a/proto/backend.proto
+++ b/proto/backend.proto
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ message BackendInput {
         Empty close_collection = 37;
         int64 get_card = 38;
         Card update_card = 39;
+        Card add_card = 40;
     }
 }
 
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ message BackendOutput {
         Empty close_collection = 37;
         GetCardOut get_card = 38;
         Empty update_card = 39;
+        int64 add_card = 40;
 
         BackendError error = 2047;
     }
diff --git a/pylib/anki/cards.py b/pylib/anki/cards.py
index d3887410c..4e0fb5610 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/cards.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/cards.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from anki.models import NoteType, Template
 from anki.notes import Note
 from anki.rsbackend import BackendCard
 from anki.sound import AVTag
-from anki.utils import intTime, joinFields, timestampID
+from anki.utils import joinFields
 
 # Cards
 ##########################################################################
@@ -38,32 +38,23 @@ class Card:
         self.col = col.weakref()
         self.timerStarted = None
         self._render_output: Optional[anki.template.TemplateRenderOutput] = None
-        self._note = None
         if id:
+            # existing card
             self.id = id
             self.load()
         else:
-            # to flush, set nid, ord, and due
-            self.id = timestampID(col.db, "cards")
-            self.did = 1
-            self.crt = intTime()
-            self.type = CARD_TYPE_NEW
-            self.queue = QUEUE_TYPE_NEW
-            self.ivl = 0
-            self.factor = 0
-            self.reps = 0
-            self.lapses = 0
-            self.left = 0
-            self.odue = 0
-            self.odid = 0
-            self.flags = 0
-            self.data = ""
+            # new card with defaults
+            self._load_from_backend_card(BackendCard())
 
     def load(self) -> None:
-        self._render_output = None
-        self._note = None
         c = self.col.backend.get_card(self.id)
         assert c
+        self._load_from_backend_card(c)
+
+    def _load_from_backend_card(self, c: BackendCard) -> None:
+        self._render_output = None
+        self._note = None
+        self.id = c.id
         self.nid = c.nid
         self.did = c.did
         self.ord = c.ord
@@ -112,7 +103,10 @@ class Card:
             flags=self.flags,
             data=self.data,
         )
-        self.col.backend.update_card(card)
+        if self.id != 0:
+            self.col.backend.update_card(card)
+        else:
+            self.col.backend.add_card(card)
 
     def question(self, reload: bool = False, browser: bool = False) -> str:
         return self.css() + self.render_output(reload, browser).question_text
diff --git a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
index 8a98b9be4..eab65cebe 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
@@ -487,6 +487,9 @@ class RustBackend:
     def update_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> None:
         self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(update_card=card))
 
+    def add_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> None:
+        card.id = self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(add_card=card)).add_card
+
 
 def translate_string_in(
     key: TR, **kwargs: Union[str, int, float]
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
index 0ba8efe53..27c2bc95f 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use crate::backend_proto::backend_input::Value;
 use crate::backend_proto::{BuiltinSortKind, Empty, RenderedTemplateReplacement, SyncMediaIn};
 use crate::card::{Card, CardID};
 use crate::card::{CardQueue, CardType};
-use crate::collection::{open_collection, Collection, CollectionOp};
+use crate::collection::{open_collection, Collection};
 use crate::config::SortKind;
 use crate::decks::DeckID;
 use crate::err::{AnkiError, NetworkErrorKind, Result, SyncErrorKind};
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ impl Backend {
                 self.update_card(card)?;
                 OValue::UpdateCard(pb::Empty {})
             }
+            Value::AddCard(card) => OValue::AddCard(self.add_card(card)?),
         })
     }
 
@@ -638,11 +639,13 @@ impl Backend {
 
     fn update_card(&self, pbcard: pb::Card) -> Result<()> {
         let mut card = pbcard_to_native(pbcard)?;
-        self.with_col(|col| {
-            col.transact(Some(CollectionOp::UpdateCard), |ctx| {
-                ctx.update_card(&mut card)
-            })
-        })
+        self.with_col(|col| col.transact(None, |ctx| ctx.update_card(&mut card)))
+    }
+
+    fn add_card(&self, pbcard: pb::Card) -> Result<i64> {
+        let mut card = pbcard_to_native(pbcard)?;
+        self.with_col(|col| col.transact(None, |ctx| ctx.add_card(&mut card)))?;
+        Ok(card.id.0)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/collection.rs b/rslib/src/collection.rs
index 627a779be..5db81874e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/collection.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/collection.rs
@@ -51,9 +51,7 @@ pub struct Collection {
     state: CollectionState,
 }
 
-pub(crate) enum CollectionOp {
-    UpdateCard,
-}
+pub(crate) enum CollectionOp {}
 
 pub(crate) struct RequestContext<'a> {
     pub storage: StorageContext<'a>,