diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/zones/view_zone.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/zones/view_zone.cpp
index 83c13d467..be2e471d4 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/zones/view_zone.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/zones/view_zone.cpp
@@ -99,9 +99,13 @@ void ZoneViewZone::initializeCards(const QList<const ServerInfo_Card *> &cardLis
         }
         reorganizeCards();
     } else if (!qobject_cast<ZoneViewZoneLogic *>(getLogic())->getOriginalZone()->contentsKnown()) {
-        PendingCommand *pend = qobject_cast<ZoneViewZoneLogic *>(getLogic())->requestZoneDump();
+        auto *viewLogic = qobject_cast<ZoneViewZoneLogic *>(getLogic());
+        PendingCommand *pend = viewLogic->prepareZoneDump();
         if (pend != nullptr) {
+            // A local game answers synchronously, so the handler has to be connected before the
+            // command is sent or the response would be delivered to nobody.
             connect(pend, &PendingCommand::finished, this, &ZoneViewZone::zoneDumpReceived);
+            viewLogic->sendZoneDump(pend);
         }
     } else {
         const CardList &c = qobject_cast<ZoneViewZoneLogic *>(getLogic())->getOriginalZone()->getCards();
diff --git a/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.cpp b/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.cpp
index 88941f12b..db1fa32c3 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.cpp
+++ b/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.cpp
@@ -192,12 +192,14 @@ void ZoneViewZoneLogic::setWriteableRevealZone(bool _writeableRevealZone)
     writeableRevealZone = _writeableRevealZone;
 }
 
-PendingCommand *ZoneViewZoneLogic::requestZoneDump()
+PendingCommand *ZoneViewZoneLogic::prepareZoneDump()
 {
-    PlayerActions *actions = getPlayer()->getPlayerActions();
-    PendingCommand *pend = actions->prepareZoneDump(this, numberCards);
-    if (pend != nullptr) {
-        actions->sendGameCommand(pend);
-    }
-    return pend;
+    return getPlayer()->getPlayerActions()->prepareZoneDump(this, numberCards);
+}
+
+void ZoneViewZoneLogic::sendZoneDump(PendingCommand *pendingCommand)
+{
+    if (pendingCommand != nullptr) {
+        getPlayer()->getPlayerActions()->sendGameCommand(pendingCommand);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.h b/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.h
index 3592db780..a29e543a3 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.h
+++ b/libcockatrice_game/libcockatrice/game/zones/view_zone_logic.h
@@ -88,14 +88,21 @@ public:
     }
 
     /**
-     * @brief Prepares and sends the zone-dump command for this view.
+     * @brief Builds the zone-dump command for this view without sending it.
      * @return The pending command, or nullptr when there is no zone to dump.
      *
      * Keeps command construction in game/ so graphics views don't reach
-     * through the player into PlayerActions to set it up. The command is sent
-     * asynchronously, so callers connect to finished() after calling this.
+     * through the player into PlayerActions to set it up. The response can
+     * arrive synchronously (local games), so callers must connect to
+     * PendingCommand::finished before calling sendZoneDump().
      */
-    PendingCommand *requestZoneDump();
+    PendingCommand *prepareZoneDump();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Sends a command returned by prepareZoneDump().
+     * @param pendingCommand The prepared command; nullptr is ignored.
+     */
+    void sendZoneDump(PendingCommand *pendingCommand);
 
 protected:
     void addCardImpl(CardState *card, int x, int y) override;