diff --git a/lib/galaxy/dataset_collections/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/dataset_collections/__init__.py
index fb6624a876b..a42180bd288 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/dataset_collections/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/dataset_collections/__init__.py
@@ -202,6 +202,10 @@ class DatasetCollectionsService(
     def __load_elements( self, trans, element_identifiers ):
         elements = odict.odict()
         for element_identifier in element_identifiers:
+            if "name" not in element_identifier:
+                raise RequestParameterInvalidException(
+                    "Cannot load invalid dataset identifier - missing name - %s" % element_identifier
+                )
             elements[ element_identifier[ "name" ] ] = self.__load_element( trans, element_identifier )
         return elements
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
index a550376a383..d1d90d2badb 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ class HistoryContentsController( BaseAPIController, UsesHistoryDatasetAssociatio
         create_params = api_payload_to_create_params( payload )
         service = trans.app.dataset_collections_service
         dataset_collection_instance = service.create( trans, parent=history, **create_params )
-        return self.__collection_dict( trans, dataset_collection_instance )
+        return self.__collection_dict( trans, dataset_collection_instance, view="element" )
 
     @expose_api_anonymous
     def update( self, trans, history_id, id, payload, **kwd ):