diff --git a/packages/composer-admin/lib/adminconnection.js b/packages/composer-admin/lib/adminconnection.js
index 82a17d4e56..4fd3ac9353 100644
--- a/packages/composer-admin/lib/adminconnection.js
+++ b/packages/composer-admin/lib/adminconnection.js
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ class AdminConnection {
                     return connectionManager.removeIdentity(connectionProfileData.name, connectionProfileData, card.getUserName());
                 }
             })
+            .then(() => {
+                return this.cardStore.put(name, card);
+            })
             .then(() => {
                 // if we have a certificate and optionally a privateKey we should ask the connection manager to import
                 let certificate = card.getCredentials().certificate;
@@ -98,9 +101,6 @@ class AdminConnection {
                     return connectionManager.importIdentity(connectionProfileData.name, connectionProfileData, card.getUserName(), certificate, privateKey);
                 }
             })
-            .then(() => {
-                return this.cardStore.put(name, card);
-            })
             .then(() => {
                 return updated;
             });
diff --git a/packages/composer-admin/test/adminconnection.js b/packages/composer-admin/test/adminconnection.js
index 016a6e4467..c1730aa614 100644
--- a/packages/composer-admin/test/adminconnection.js
+++ b/packages/composer-admin/test/adminconnection.js
@@ -1091,17 +1091,6 @@ describe('AdminConnection', () => {
                     );
                 });
             });
-
-            it('should not add card to card store if importIdentity fails', function() {
-                const cardName = 'conga';
-                const certificate = 'CERTIFICATE_DATA';
-                const privateKey = 'PRIVATE_KEY_DATA';
-                userCard.setCredentials({certificate : certificate, privateKey : privateKey});
-                mockConnectionManager.importIdentity.rejects(new Error('importIdentity'));
-                return adminConnection.importCard(cardName, userCard).should.be.rejected.then(() => {
-                    return cardStore.has(cardName).should.become(false);
-                });
-            });
         });
 
         describe('#getAllCards', function () {