diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/topic.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/topic.js
index 5298b2b59b8..6dc8a68c650 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/topic.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/models/topic.js
@@ -614,6 +614,12 @@ Topic.reopenClass({
     MUTED: 0,
   },
 
+  munge(json) {
+    // ensure we are not overriding category computed property
+    delete json.category;
+    return json;
+  },
+
   createActionSummary(result) {
     if (result.actions_summary) {
       const lookup = EmberObject.create();