diff --git a/plugin/__init__.py b/plugin/__init__.py
index 031ba30..d996b36 100644
--- a/plugin/__init__.py
+++ b/plugin/__init__.py
@@ -488,7 +488,15 @@ class AnkiConnect:
 
     @util.api()
     def sync(self):
-        self.window().onSync()
+        mw = self.window()
+        auth = mw.pm.sync_auth()
+        if not auth:
+            raise Exception("sync: auth not configured")
+        out = mw.col.sync_collection(auth, mw.pm.media_syncing_enabled())
+        accepted_sync_statuses = [out.NO_CHANGES, out.NORMAL_SYNC]
+        if out.required not in accepted_sync_statuses:
+            raise Exception(f"Sync status {out.required} not one of {accepted_sync_statuses} - see SyncCollectionResponse.ChangesRequired for list of sync statuses: https://github.com/ankitects/anki/blob/e41c4573d789afe8b020fab5d9d1eede50c3fa3d/proto/anki/sync.proto#L57-L65")
+        mw.onSync()
 
 
     @util.api()