Set country from custom cart controller

Question

I try to set the country from my custom cart controller with the following function:

public function setCountryAction()
{
    $country = (string) $this->getRequest()->getParam('country');
    $quote = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session')->getQuote();

    $quote->getBillingAddress()->setCountryId($country);
    $quote->getShippingAddress()->setCountryId($country);
    $quote->save();

    // print $quote->getBillingAddress()->getCountryId();
}

The print at the end of the function contains the expected result but unfortunately the country is not actually saved to the quote.

When I change the country from the checkout, go back to the cart and do the action again, strangely enough it works perfectly.

So the problem only exists with a new, empty session.

Answer 1

Finally found! This issue has to do with the 'Default country' option in the OneStepCheckout extension.

Answer 2

Instead of $quote->save(); or before it try

$quote->getBillingAddress()->save();
$quote->getShippingAddress()->save();