diff --git a/proto/anki/backend.proto b/proto/anki/backend.proto
index 74675f4bd..6f3d7c778 100644
--- a/proto/anki/backend.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/backend.proto
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ message BackendError {
     SEARCH_ERROR = 14;
     CUSTOM_STUDY_ERROR = 15;
     IMPORT_ERROR = 16;
+    // Collection imported, but media import failed.
+    IMPORT_MEDIA_ERROR = 17;
   }
 
   // localized error description suitable for displaying to the user
diff --git a/proto/anki/import_export.proto b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
index e21c7ffb4..94711c31a 100644
--- a/proto/anki/import_export.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ message PackageMetadata {
     VERSION_LEGACY_1 = 1;
     // When `meta` missing, and collection.anki21 file present.
     VERSION_LEGACY_2 = 2;
-    /// Implies MediaEntry media map, and zstd compression.
-    /// collection.21b file
+    // Implies MediaEntry media map, and zstd compression.
+    // collection.21b file
     VERSION_LATEST = 3;
   }
 
diff --git a/pylib/anki/_backend/__init__.py b/pylib/anki/_backend/__init__.py
index e0084a326..155f09413 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/_backend/__init__.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/_backend/__init__.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from ..errors import (
     DBError,
     ExistsError,
     FilteredDeckError,
+    ImportMediaError,
     Interrupted,
     InvalidInput,
     LocalizedError,
@@ -219,6 +220,9 @@ def backend_exception_to_pylib(err: backend_pb2.BackendError) -> Exception:
     elif val == kind.CUSTOM_STUDY_ERROR:
         return CustomStudyError(err.localized)
 
+    elif val == kind.IMPORT_MEDIA_ERROR:
+        return ImportMediaError(err.localized)
+
     else:
         # sadly we can't do exhaustiveness checking on protobuf enums
         # assert_exhaustive(val)
diff --git a/pylib/anki/errors.py b/pylib/anki/errors.py
index 07e26cc9e..c0b004aba 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/errors.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/errors.py
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ class AbortSchemaModification(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+class ImportMediaError(LocalizedError):
+    pass
+
+
 # legacy
 DeckRenameError = FilteredDeckError
 AnkiError = AbortSchemaModification
diff --git a/qt/aqt/importing.py b/qt/aqt/importing.py
index 7e5f65c64..b9ee36d21 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/importing.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/importing.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import anki.importing as importing
 import aqt.deckchooser
 import aqt.forms
 import aqt.modelchooser
-from anki.errors import Interrupted
+from anki.errors import ImportMediaError, Interrupted
 from anki.importing.anki2 import V2ImportIntoV1
 from anki.importing.apkg import AnkiPackageImporter
 from aqt import AnkiQt, gui_hooks
@@ -457,7 +457,8 @@ def replace_with_apkg(
     mw: aqt.AnkiQt, filename: str, callback: Callable[[bool], None]
 ) -> None:
     """Tries to replace the provided collection with the provided backup,
-    then calls the callback. True if success.
+    then calls the callback. True if collection file was imported (even
+    if media failed).
     """
     dialog = mw.progress.start(immediate=True)
     timer = QTimer()
@@ -495,7 +496,8 @@ def replace_with_apkg(
         except Exception as error:
             if not isinstance(error, Interrupted):
                 showWarning(str(error))
-            callback(False)
+            collection_file_imported = isinstance(error, ImportMediaError)
+            callback(collection_file_imported)
         else:
             callback(True)
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/error.rs b/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
index 165e1c7fb..4fa4b7513 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/error.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use crate::{
     backend_proto as pb,
     backend_proto::backend_error::Kind,
-    error::{AnkiError, SyncErrorKind},
+    error::{AnkiError, ImportError, SyncErrorKind},
     prelude::*,
 };
 
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ impl AnkiError {
             AnkiError::MultipleNotetypesSelected => Kind::InvalidInput,
             AnkiError::DatabaseCheckRequired => Kind::InvalidInput,
             AnkiError::CustomStudyError(_) => Kind::CustomStudyError,
+            AnkiError::ImportError(ImportError::MediaImportFailed(_)) => Kind::ImportMediaError,
             AnkiError::ImportError(_) => Kind::ImportError,
             AnkiError::FileIoError(_) => Kind::IoError,
             AnkiError::MediaCheckRequired => Kind::InvalidInput,
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs b/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
index 47d99a456..563b31d66 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ impl ImportExportService for Backend {
             &input.backup_path,
             &input.col_path,
             &input.media_folder,
+            &self.tr,
             self.import_progress_fn(),
         )
         .map(Into::into)
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/import.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/import.rs
index efd820e54..1350b56b4 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/import.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/import.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ pub fn import_colpkg(
     colpkg_path: &str,
     target_col_path: &str,
     target_media_folder: &str,
+    tr: &I18n,
     mut progress_fn: impl FnMut(ImportProgress) -> Result<()>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     progress_fn(ImportProgress::Collection)?;
@@ -76,7 +77,12 @@ pub fn import_colpkg(
     progress_fn(ImportProgress::Collection)?;
 
     let media_folder = Path::new(target_media_folder);
-    let media_import_result = restore_media(&meta, progress_fn, &mut archive, media_folder);
+    let media_import_result = restore_media(&meta, progress_fn, &mut archive, media_folder)
+        .map_err(|err| {
+            AnkiError::ImportError(ImportError::MediaImportFailed(
+                err.localized_description(tr),
+            ))
+        });
 
     // Proceed with replacing collection, regardless of media import result
     tempfile.as_file().sync_all()?;
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/tests.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/tests.rs
index 37da08c41..b0642f5c2 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/tests.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/package/colpkg/tests.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ fn roundtrip() -> Result<()> {
     for (legacy, name) in [(true, "legacy"), (false, "v3")] {
         // export to a file
         let col = collection_with_media(dir, name)?;
+        let tr = col.tr.clone();
         let colpkg_name = dir.join(format!("{name}.colpkg"));
         col.export_colpkg(&colpkg_name, true, legacy, |_| ())?;
         // import into a new collection
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ fn roundtrip() -> Result<()> {
             &colpkg_name.to_string_lossy(),
             &anki2_name,
             import_media_dir.to_str().unwrap(),
+            &tr,
             |_| Ok(()),
         )?;
         // confirm collection imported