diff --git a/proto/anki/notetypes.proto b/proto/anki/notetypes.proto
index 4065e34ab..9bf0c7bb0 100644
--- a/proto/anki/notetypes.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/notetypes.proto
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ message Notetype {
 message AddOrUpdateNotetypeRequest {
   bytes json = 1;
   bool preserve_usn_and_mtime = 2;
+  bool skip_checks = 3;
 }
 
 message StockNotetype {
diff --git a/pylib/anki/importing/anki2.py b/pylib/anki/importing/anki2.py
index b295df974..cddacd787 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/importing/anki2.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/importing/anki2.py
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ class Anki2Importer(Importer):
                 model = srcModel.copy()
                 model["id"] = mid
                 model["usn"] = self.col.usn()
-                self.dst.models.update(model)
+                self.dst.models.update(model, skip_checks=True)
                 break
             # there's an existing model; do the schemas match?
             dstModel = self.dst.models.get(mid)
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ class Anki2Importer(Importer):
                     model = srcModel.copy()
                     model["id"] = mid
                     model["usn"] = self.col.usn()
-                    self.dst.models.update(model)
+                    self.dst.models.update(model, skip_checks=True)
                 break
             # as they don't match, try next id
             mid = NotetypeId(mid + 1)
diff --git a/pylib/anki/models.py b/pylib/anki/models.py
index 889d749bd..932b461c1 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/models.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/models.py
@@ -527,12 +527,19 @@ and notes.mid = ? and cards.ord = ?""",
         pass
 
     # @deprecated(replaced_by=update_dict)
-    def update(self, notetype: NotetypeDict, preserve_usn: bool = True) -> None:
+    def update(
+        self,
+        notetype: NotetypeDict,
+        preserve_usn: bool = True,
+        skip_checks: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
         "Add or update an existing model. Use .update_dict() instead."
         self._remove_from_cache(notetype["id"])
         self.ensure_name_unique(notetype)
         notetype["id"] = self.col._backend.add_or_update_notetype(
-            json=to_json_bytes(notetype), preserve_usn_and_mtime=preserve_usn
+            json=to_json_bytes(notetype),
+            preserve_usn_and_mtime=preserve_usn,
+            skip_checks=skip_checks,
         )
         self.set_current(notetype)
         self._mutate_after_write(notetype)
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/notetypes.rs b/rslib/src/backend/notetypes.rs
index 9dfe9ab44..3e2e85047 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/notetypes.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/notetypes.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ impl NotetypesService for Backend {
         let mut notetype: Notetype = input.into();
         self.with_col(|col| {
             Ok(col
-                .add_notetype(&mut notetype)?
+                .add_notetype(&mut notetype, false)?
                 .map(|_| notetype.id.0)
                 .into())
         })
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ impl NotetypesService for Backend {
 
     fn update_notetype(&self, input: pb::Notetype) -> Result<pb::OpChanges> {
         let mut notetype: Notetype = input.into();
-        self.with_col(|col| col.update_notetype(&mut notetype))
+        self.with_col(|col| col.update_notetype(&mut notetype, false))
             .map(Into::into)
     }
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ impl NotetypesService for Backend {
         let mut notetype: Notetype = legacy.into();
         self.with_col(|col| {
             Ok(col
-                .add_notetype(&mut notetype)?
+                .add_notetype(&mut notetype, false)?
                 .map(|_| notetype.id.0)
                 .into())
         })
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl NotetypesService for Backend {
     fn update_notetype_legacy(&self, input: pb::Json) -> Result<pb::OpChanges> {
         let legacy: NotetypeSchema11 = serde_json::from_slice(&input.json)?;
         let mut notetype: Notetype = legacy.into();
-        self.with_col(|col| col.update_notetype(&mut notetype))
+        self.with_col(|col| col.update_notetype(&mut notetype, false))
             .map(Into::into)
     }
 
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@ impl NotetypesService for Backend {
                 nt.set_modified(col.usn()?);
             }
             if nt.id.0 == 0 {
-                col.add_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+                col.add_notetype(&mut nt, input.skip_checks)?;
             } else if !input.preserve_usn_and_mtime {
-                col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+                col.update_notetype(&mut nt, input.skip_checks)?;
             } else {
-                col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id(&mut nt)?;
+                col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id(&mut nt, input.skip_checks)?;
             }
             Ok(pb::NotetypeId { ntid: nt.id.0 })
         })
diff --git a/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs b/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
index 92d50e22e..46fb95c3a 100644
--- a/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/dbcheck.rs
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ impl Collection {
         // one note type exists
         if self.storage.get_all_notetype_names()?.is_empty() {
             let mut nt = all_stock_notetypes(&self.tr).remove(0);
-            self.add_notetype_inner(&mut nt, usn)?;
+            self.add_notetype_inner(&mut nt, usn, true)?;
         }
 
         if out.card_ords_duplicated > 0
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ impl Collection {
         for n in 0..extra_cards_required {
             basic.add_template(&format!("Card {}", n + 2), &qfmt, &afmt);
         }
-        self.add_notetype(&mut basic)?;
+        self.add_notetype(&mut basic, true)?;
         Ok(Arc::new(basic))
     }
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
index 1220372b3..82b59d910 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
@@ -117,11 +117,15 @@ impl Notetype {
 
 impl Collection {
     /// Add a new notetype, and allocate it an ID.
-    pub fn add_notetype(&mut self, notetype: &mut Notetype) -> Result<OpOutput<()>> {
+    pub fn add_notetype(
+        &mut self,
+        notetype: &mut Notetype,
+        skip_checks: bool,
+    ) -> Result<OpOutput<()>> {
         self.transact(Op::AddNotetype, |col| {
             let usn = col.usn()?;
             notetype.set_modified(usn);
-            col.add_notetype_inner(notetype, usn)
+            col.add_notetype_inner(notetype, usn, skip_checks)
         })
     }
 
@@ -130,7 +134,11 @@ impl Collection {
     ///
     /// This does not assign ordinals to the provided notetype, so if you wish
     /// to make use of template_idx, the notetype must be fetched again.
-    pub fn update_notetype(&mut self, notetype: &mut Notetype) -> Result<OpOutput<()>> {
+    pub fn update_notetype(
+        &mut self,
+        notetype: &mut Notetype,
+        skip_checks: bool,
+    ) -> Result<OpOutput<()>> {
         self.transact(Op::UpdateNotetype, |col| {
             let original = col
                 .storage
@@ -138,7 +146,12 @@ impl Collection {
                 .ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?;
             let usn = col.usn()?;
             notetype.set_modified(usn);
-            col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id_inner(notetype, Some(original), usn)
+            col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id_inner(
+                notetype,
+                Some(original),
+                usn,
+                skip_checks,
+            )
         })
     }
 
@@ -147,11 +160,12 @@ impl Collection {
     pub fn add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id(
         &mut self,
         notetype: &mut Notetype,
+        skip_checks: bool,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         self.transact_no_undo(|col| {
             let usn = col.usn()?;
             let existing = col.storage.get_notetype(notetype.id)?;
-            col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id_inner(notetype, existing, usn)
+            col.add_or_update_notetype_with_existing_id_inner(notetype, existing, usn, skip_checks)
         })
     }
 
@@ -419,7 +433,11 @@ impl Notetype {
         self.templates.push(CardTemplate::new(name, qfmt, afmt));
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn prepare_for_update(&mut self, existing: Option<&Notetype>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub(crate) fn prepare_for_update(
+        &mut self,
+        existing: Option<&Notetype>,
+        skip_checks: bool,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         if self.fields.is_empty() {
             return Err(AnkiError::invalid_input("1 field required"));
         }
@@ -450,9 +468,11 @@ impl Notetype {
             }
         }
         self.config.reqs = reqs;
-        self.ensure_template_fronts_unique()?;
-        self.ensure_valid_parsed_templates(&parsed_templates)?;
-        self.ensure_cloze_if_cloze_notetype(&parsed_templates)?;
+        if !skip_checks {
+            self.ensure_template_fronts_unique()?;
+            self.ensure_valid_parsed_templates(&parsed_templates)?;
+            self.ensure_cloze_if_cloze_notetype(&parsed_templates)?;
+        }
 
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -610,8 +630,13 @@ impl Collection {
     }
 
     /// Caller must set notetype as modified if appropriate.
-    pub(crate) fn add_notetype_inner(&mut self, notetype: &mut Notetype, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
-        notetype.prepare_for_update(None)?;
+    pub(crate) fn add_notetype_inner(
+        &mut self,
+        notetype: &mut Notetype,
+        usn: Usn,
+        skip_checks: bool,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        notetype.prepare_for_update(None, skip_checks)?;
         self.ensure_notetype_name_unique(notetype, usn)?;
         self.add_notetype_undoable(notetype)?;
         self.set_current_notetype_id(notetype.id)
@@ -624,9 +649,10 @@ impl Collection {
         notetype: &mut Notetype,
         original: Option<Notetype>,
         usn: Usn,
+        skip_checks: bool,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let normalize = self.get_config_bool(BoolKey::NormalizeNoteText);
-        notetype.prepare_for_update(original.as_ref())?;
+        notetype.prepare_for_update(original.as_ref(), skip_checks)?;
         self.ensure_notetype_name_unique(notetype, usn)?;
 
         if let Some(original) = original {
@@ -671,7 +697,7 @@ impl Collection {
         let all = self.storage.get_all_notetype_names()?;
         if all.is_empty() {
             let mut nt = all_stock_notetypes(&self.tr).remove(0);
-            self.add_notetype_inner(&mut nt, self.usn()?)?;
+            self.add_notetype_inner(&mut nt, self.usn()?, true)?;
             self.set_current_notetype_id(nt.id)
         } else {
             self.set_current_notetype_id(all[0].0)
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/notetypechange.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/notetypechange.rs
index a0904dfb9..b173af8d3 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/notetypechange.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/notetypechange.rs
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ mod test {
         basic.add_field("Text"); // 4
         basic.add_field("idx5");
         // re-fetch to get ordinals
-        col.update_notetype(&mut basic)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut basic, false)?;
         let basic = col.get_notetype(basic.id)?.unwrap();
 
         // if names match, assignments are out of order; unmatched entries
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
index b940f401f..88e065005 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
@@ -258,13 +258,13 @@ mod test {
         col.add_note(&mut note, DeckId(1))?;
 
         nt.add_field("three");
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         let note = col.storage.get_note(note.id)?.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(note.fields(), &["one".to_string(), "two".into(), "".into()]);
 
         nt.fields.remove(1);
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         let note = col.storage.get_note(note.id)?.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(note.fields(), &["one".to_string(), "".into()]);
@@ -281,13 +281,13 @@ mod test {
             .unwrap();
         nt.templates[0].config.q_format += "\n{{#Front}}{{some:Front}}{{Back}}{{/Front}}";
         nt.fields[0].name = "Test".into();
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
         assert_eq!(
             &nt.templates[0].config.q_format,
             "{{Test}}\n{{#Test}}{{some:Test}}{{Back}}{{/Test}}"
         );
         nt.fields.remove(0);
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
         assert_eq!(&nt.templates[0].config.q_format, "\n{{Back}}");
 
         Ok(())
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ mod test {
 
         // add an extra card template
         nt.add_template("card 2", "{{Front}}2", "");
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         assert_eq!(
             col.search_cards(note.id, SortMode::NoOrder).unwrap().len(),
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/stock.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/stock.rs
index 268ec485d..58619889b 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/stock.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/stock.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use crate::{
 impl SqliteStorage {
     pub(crate) fn add_stock_notetypes(&self, tr: &I18n) -> Result<()> {
         for (idx, mut nt) in all_stock_notetypes(tr).into_iter().enumerate() {
-            nt.prepare_for_update(None)?;
+            nt.prepare_for_update(None, true)?;
             self.add_notetype(&mut nt)?;
             if idx == Kind::Basic as usize {
                 self.set_config_entry(&ConfigEntry::boxed(
diff --git a/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs b/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
index c802f2bc2..e6c538326 100644
--- a/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/sync/mod.rs
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ mod test {
         // and a new notetype
         let mut nt = all_stock_notetypes(&col1.tr).remove(0);
         nt.name = "new".into();
-        col1.add_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col1.add_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         // add another note+card+tag
         let mut note = nt.new_note();
@@ -1502,7 +1502,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let mut nt = col2.storage.get_notetype(nt.id)?.unwrap();
         nt.name = "newer".into();
-        col2.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col2.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         // sync the changes back
         let out = ctx.normal_sync(&mut col2).await;