diff --git a/backend/app/routes/plex/collections.py b/backend/app/routes/plex/collections.py
index 3e791adb..abd83d79 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes/plex/collections.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/plex/collections.py
@@ -454,16 +454,25 @@ def create_collection(
         raise not_found("library")
     _reject_duplicate_name(db, lib.id, title)
     wrote = False
+    new_rk = ""
     try:
         with PlexClient(db) as plex:
             # A show collection is made as one (Plex type 2): as a movie one it stayed empty.
             new = plex.create_collection(lib.plex_key, title, seed, 2 if seed_show else 1)
             wrote = True
-            col = plex_sync.resync_collection(db, plex, lib, str(new.get("ratingKey")))
+            new_rk = str(new.get("ratingKey") or "")
+            col = plex_sync.resync_collection(db, plex, lib, new_rk)
             col.editable = True
         db.commit()
     except (PlexError, PlexNotConfigured) as e:
         db.rollback()
+        if wrote and new_rk:
+            # It is on Plex now, and only the follow-up read failed. Its row is kept, editable: the
+            # full sync preserves `editable` but creates a missing row read-only, so the collection
+            # would drop out of every "add to" list; and the duplicate-name check reads these rows,
+            # so a retry of the same name would make a second one on Plex.
+            db.add(PlexCollection(rating_key=new_rk, library_id=lib.id, title=title, editable=True))
+            db.commit()
         raise _write_or_pending_error(wrote, e) from e
     return _collection_card(col)
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_plex_collections_filter.py b/backend/tests/test_plex_collections_filter.py
index 60048cbb..dfa8b012 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_plex_collections_filter.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_plex_collections_filter.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from app.db import get_db
 from app.main import app
 from app.models import PlexCollection, PlexItem, PlexLibrary, PlexShow, User
 from app.plex.client import PlexError
+from app.plex.lookups import by_rating_key
 from app.routes.plex import collections as coll_routes
 
 
@@ -355,6 +356,16 @@ def test_create_resync_failure_is_422(db, monkeypatch, override_dep):
     assert r.status_code == 422, r.text
     assert r.json()["detail"] == {"code": "refused", "reason": "collection_pending_sync"}
     assert "create_collection" in stub.calls
+    # It exists on Plex: its row stays, editable, until the next sync fills it in — so it is offered
+    # where collections are added to, and the same name is not made twice.
+    row = by_rating_key(db, PlexCollection, "NEW")
+    assert row is not None and row.editable and row.title == "Fresh Coll"
+    again = client.post(
+        "/api/plex/collections",
+        json={"library": "1", "title": "Fresh Coll", "item_rating_key": "m1"},
+    )
+    assert again.status_code == 409, again.text
+    assert stub.calls.count("create_collection") == 1
 
 
 def test_mutation_failure_returns_422_write_failed(db, monkeypatch, override_dep):