diff --git a/app/serializers/basic_category_serializer.rb b/app/serializers/basic_category_serializer.rb
index cf78bdfd865..2bf18d85612 100644
--- a/app/serializers/basic_category_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/serializers/basic_category_serializer.rb
@@ -38,4 +38,7 @@ class BasicCategorySerializer < ApplicationSerializer
     scope && scope.can_edit?(object)
   end
 
+  def notification_level
+    object.notification_level || CategoryUser.where(user: object.user, category: object).first.try(:notification_level)
+  end
 end