diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/topic.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/topic.js
index 57a219f8e06..435da4d4032 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/topic.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/controllers/topic.js
@@ -1201,7 +1201,9 @@ export default class TopicController extends Controller.extend(
       options = {
         action: Composer.CREATE_TOPIC,
         draftKey: post.topic.draft_key,
-        topicCategoryId: this.get("model.category.id"),
+        topicCategoryId:
+          this.get("model.category.permission") &&
+          this.get("model.category.id"),
         prioritizedCategoryId: this.get("model.category.id"),
       };
     }