diff --git a/card.gd b/card.gd
index 817f9fd..c811a4a 100644
--- a/card.gd
+++ b/card.gd
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ var card_name = "placeholder_name"
 var card_type = "placeholder_card_type"
 var oracle_text = "placeholder_oracle_text"
 
-func _check_cache() -> bool:
-	## want to check the cache before we make any scryfall calls
+func _check_cache(id) -> bool:
+	if (FileAccess.file_exists("user://card_cache/" + id + ".json")):
+		return true
 	return false
 
 func _do_scryfall_get(id) -> void:
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func _do_scryfall_get(id) -> void:
 
 	
 func load_card(id) -> void:
-	if !(_check_cache()):
+	if !(_check_cache(id)):
 		_do_scryfall_get(id)
 	
 	var ondisk_card = FileAccess.open("user://card_cache/" + id + ".json", FileAccess.READ)