diff --git a/anki/notes.py b/anki/notes.py
index bc33649a4..3f1397aef 100644
--- a/anki/notes.py
+++ b/anki/notes.py
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ from notes where id = ?""", self.id)
         self._fmap = self.col.models.fieldMap(self._model)
 
     def flush(self, mod=None):
-        if self.model()['cloze']:
-            self._clozePreFlush()
+        self._preFlush()
         self.mod = mod if mod else intTime()
         self.usn = self.col.usn()
         sfld = stripHTML(self.fields[self.col.models.sortIdx(self._model)])
@@ -60,8 +59,7 @@ insert or replace into notes values (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)""",
                             self.data)
         self.id = res.lastrowid
         self.col.tags.register(self.tags)
-        if self.model()['cloze']:
-            self._clozePostFlush()
+        self._postFlush()
 
     def joinedFields(self):
         return joinFields(self.fields)
@@ -148,21 +146,12 @@ insert or replace into notes values (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)""",
     # Flushing cloze notes
     ##################################################
 
-    def _clozePreFlush(self):
+    def _preFlush(self):
+        # have we been added yet?
         self.newlyAdded = not self.col.db.scalar(
             "select 1 from cards where nid = ?", self.id)
-        tmpls = self.col.findTemplates(self)
-        ok = []
-        for t in tmpls:
-            ok.append(t['ord'])
-        # check if there are cards referencing a deleted cloze
-        if self.col.db.scalar(
-            "select 1 from cards where nid = ? and ord not in %s" %
-            ids2str(ok), self.id):
-            # there are; abort, as the UI should have handled this
-            raise Exception("UI should have deleted cloze")
 
-    def _clozePostFlush(self):
+    def _postFlush(self):
         # generate missing cards
         if not self.newlyAdded:
             self.col.genCards([self.id])
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 6b496fe37..f4f498b1a 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -166,13 +166,8 @@ def test_cloze():
     assert d.addNote(f) == 0
     f['Text'] = "hello {{c1::foo}}"
     assert d.addNote(f) == 1
-    # deleting a cloze should fail; the ui should clean up invalid cards
-    cnt = d.cardCount()
-    f['Text'] = "hello"
-    assertException(Exception, lambda: f.flush())
-    f['Text'] = "hello {{c1::foo}}"
-    f.flush()
     # if we add another cloze, a card should be generated
+    cnt = d.cardCount()
     f['Text'] = "{{c2::hello}} {{c1::foo}}"
     f.flush()
     assert d.cardCount() == cnt + 1