diff --git a/R/rename_ard_columns.R b/R/rename_ard_columns.R
index ca2cc4be3..7fdb8b3c0 100644
--- a/R/rename_ard_columns.R
+++ b/R/rename_ard_columns.R
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #' Rename the grouping and variable columns to their original column names.
 #'
 #' @param x (`data.frame`)\cr
-#'   an ARD data frame of class 'card'
+#'   an ARD data frame of class `'card'` or `'card_unlisted'`
 #' @param columns ([`tidy-select`][dplyr::dplyr_tidy_select])\cr
 #'   columns to rename, e.g. selecting columns `c('group1', 'group2', 'variable')`
 #'   will rename `'group1_level'` to the name of the variable found in `'group1'`.
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #'   of retaining the label. Default is `TRUE`.
 #' @param unlist `r lifecycle::badge("deprecated")`
 #'
-#' @return data frame
+#' @return a data frame of class `'card_renamed'`
 #' @export
 #'
 #' @examples
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ rename_ard_columns <- function(x,
   }
   set_cli_abort_call()
   check_not_missing(x)
-  check_class(x, "card")
+  check_class(x, c("card", "card_unlisted"))
   process_selectors(x, columns = {{ columns }})
   check_scalar(fill)
   check_scalar_logical(fct_as_chr)
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ rename_ard_columns <- function(x,
     )
   }
 
-  x |>
+  result <-
+    x |>
     dplyr::mutate(...ard_row_order... = dplyr::row_number()) |>
     dplyr::group_by(dplyr::pick(all_of(column_names))) |>
     dplyr::group_map(
@@ -143,4 +144,9 @@ rename_ard_columns <- function(x,
           unlist()
       )
     )
+
+  # remove 'card' class: renamed data no longer satisfies the ARD contract -----
+  class(result) <- c("card_renamed", setdiff(class(result), c("card", "card_unlisted", "card_renamed")))
+
+  result
 }
diff --git a/R/unlist_ard_columns.R b/R/unlist_ard_columns.R
index 57d959a82..4a514fa0f 100644
--- a/R/unlist_ard_columns.R
+++ b/R/unlist_ard_columns.R
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #'   of retaining the label. Default is `TRUE`.
 #'
 #'
-#' @returns a data frame
+#' @returns a data frame of class `'card_unlisted'`
 #' @export
 #'
 #' @examples
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ unlist_ard_columns <- function(x,
     x[[var]] <- var_unlisted
   }
 
-  # return unlisted object -----------------------------------------------------
+  # remove 'card' class: unlisted data no longer satisfies the ARD contract ---
+  class(x) <- c("card_unlisted", setdiff(class(x), c("card", "card_unlisted", "card_renamed")))
+
   x
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-rename_ard_columns.R b/tests/testthat/test-rename_ard_columns.R
index 10261ae88..56acf2008 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-rename_ard_columns.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-rename_ard_columns.R
@@ -1,3 +1,22 @@
+test_that("rename_ard_columns() returns 'card_renamed' class", {
+  result <-
+    ADSL |>
+    ard_tabulate(by = ARM, variables = AGEGR1) |>
+    rename_ard_columns()
+
+  expect_s3_class(result, "card_renamed")
+  expect_false(inherits(result, "card"))
+})
+
+test_that("rename_ard_columns() accepts 'card_unlisted' input", {
+  expect_silent(
+    ADSL |>
+      ard_tabulate(by = ARM, variables = AGEGR1) |>
+      unlist_ard_columns() |>
+      rename_ard_columns()
+  )
+})
+
 test_that("rename_ard_columns(columns)", {
   expect_equal(
     ADSL |>
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-unlist_ard_columns.R b/tests/testthat/test-unlist_ard_columns.R
index 28b20c448..5b9549199 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-unlist_ard_columns.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-unlist_ard_columns.R
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+test_that("unlist_ard_columns() returns 'card_unlisted' class", {
+  result <-
+    ard_tabulate(ADSL, variables = AGEGR1) |>
+    unlist_ard_columns()
+
+  expect_s3_class(result, "card_unlisted")
+  expect_false(inherits(result, "card"))
+})
+
 test_that("unlist_ard_columns()", {
   expect_equal(
     ard_tabulate(ADSL, variables = AGEGR1) |>