diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/controllers/list_controller.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/controllers/list_controller.js
index 0fb4fd929..07bc684c4 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/controllers/list_controller.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/controllers/list_controller.js
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Discourse.ListController = Discourse.Controller.extend({
   // Create topic button
   createTopic: function() {
     this.get('controllers.composer').open({
-      categoryName: this.get('category.name'),
+      categoryId: this.get('category.id'),
       action: Discourse.Composer.CREATE_TOPIC,
       draft: this.get('draft'),
       draftKey: this.get('draft_key'),
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/composer.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/composer.js
index bb33e6456..8981feb34 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/composer.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/composer.js
@@ -121,10 +121,10 @@ Discourse.Composer = Discourse.Model.extend({
     // reply is always required
     if (this.get('missingReplyCharacters') > 0) return true;
 
-    if (this.get('canCategorize') && !Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics && !this.get('categoryName')) return true;
+    if (this.get('canCategorize') && !Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics && !this.get('categoryId')) return true;
 
     return false;
-  }.property('loading', 'canEditTitle', 'titleLength', 'targetUsernames', 'replyLength', 'categoryName', 'missingReplyCharacters'),
+  }.property('loading', 'canEditTitle', 'titleLength', 'targetUsernames', 'replyLength', 'categoryId', 'missingReplyCharacters'),
 
   /**
     Is the title's length valid?
@@ -328,14 +328,14 @@ Discourse.Composer = Discourse.Model.extend({
     }
 
     this.setProperties({
-      categoryName: opts.categoryName || this.get('topic.category.name'),
+      categoryId: opts.categoryId || this.get('topic.category.id'),
       archetypeId: opts.archetypeId || Discourse.Site.currentProp('default_archetype'),
       metaData: opts.metaData ? Em.Object.create(opts.metaData) : null,
       reply: opts.reply || this.get("reply") || ""
     });
 
-    if (!this.get('categoryName') && !Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics && Discourse.Category.list().length > 0) {
-      this.set('categoryName', Discourse.Category.list()[0].get('name'));
+    if (!this.get('categoryId') && !Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics && Discourse.Category.list().length > 0) {
+      this.set('categoryId', Discourse.Category.list()[0].get('id'));
     }
 
     if (opts.postId) {
@@ -398,16 +398,9 @@ Discourse.Composer = Discourse.Model.extend({
       var topic = this.get('topic');
       topic.setProperties({
         title: this.get('title'),
-        fancy_title: this.get('title')
+        fancy_title: this.get('title'),
+        category_id: parseInt(this.get('categoryId'), 10)
       });
-
-      var category = Discourse.Category.list().findProperty('name', this.get('categoryName'));
-      if (category) {
-        topic.setProperties({
-          categoryName: category.get('name'),
-          category_id: category.get('id')
-        });
-      }
       topic.save();
     }
 
@@ -447,7 +440,7 @@ Discourse.Composer = Discourse.Model.extend({
     var createdPost = Discourse.Post.create({
       raw: this.get('reply'),
       title: this.get('title'),
-      category: this.get('categoryName'),
+      category: this.get('categoryId'),
       topic_id: this.get('topic.id'),
       reply_to_post_number: post ? post.get('post_number') : null,
       imageSizes: opts.imageSizes,
@@ -544,7 +537,7 @@ Discourse.Composer = Discourse.Model.extend({
       reply: this.get('reply'),
       action: this.get('action'),
       title: this.get('title'),
-      categoryName: this.get('categoryName'),
+      categoryId: this.get('categoryId'),
       postId: this.get('post.id'),
       archetypeId: this.get('archetypeId'),
       metaData: this.get('metaData'),
@@ -599,7 +592,7 @@ Discourse.Composer.reopenClass({
         topic: topic,
         action: draft.action,
         title: draft.title,
-        categoryName: draft.categoryName,
+        categoryId: draft.categoryId,
         postId: draft.postId,
         archetypeId: draft.archetypeId,
         reply: draft.reply,
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/composer.js.handlebars b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/composer.js.handlebars
index daed39384..cb47da8e1 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/composer.js.handlebars
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/composer.js.handlebars
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
             {{#unless model.creatingPrivateMessage}}
               <div class="category-input">
-                {{categoryChooser valueAttribute="name" value=model.categoryName}}
+                {{categoryChooser valueAttribute="id" value=model.categoryId}}
                 {{popupInputTip validation=view.categoryValidation shownAt=view.showCategoryTip}}
               </div>
               {{#if model.archetype.hasOptions}}
diff --git a/lib/topic_creator.rb b/lib/topic_creator.rb
index f11e4a341..e60051e1a 100644
--- a/lib/topic_creator.rb
+++ b/lib/topic_creator.rb
@@ -39,7 +39,14 @@ class TopicCreator
     topic_params[:archetype] = @opts[:archetype] if @opts[:archetype].present?
     topic_params[:subtype] = @opts[:subtype] if @opts[:subtype].present?
 
-    category = Category.where(name: @opts[:category]).first
+    # Temporary fix to allow older clients to create topics.
+    # When all clients are updated the category variable should
+    # be set directly to the contents of the if statement.
+    category = if (@opts[:category].is_a? Integer) || (@opts[:category] =~ /^\d+$/)
+      Category.where(id: @opts[:category]).first
+    else
+      Category.where(name: @opts[:category]).first
+    end
 
     @guardian.ensure_can_create!(Topic,category)
     topic_params[:category_id] = category.id if category.present?
diff --git a/spec/components/post_creator_spec.rb b/spec/components/post_creator_spec.rb
index 767e1ca13..528367c01 100644
--- a/spec/components/post_creator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/post_creator_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe PostCreator do
     let(:image_sizes) { {'http://an.image.host/image.jpg' => {"width" => 111, "height" => 222}} }
 
     let(:creator) { PostCreator.new(user, basic_topic_params) }
-    let(:creator_with_category) { PostCreator.new(user, basic_topic_params.merge(category: category.name )) }
+    let(:creator_with_category) { PostCreator.new(user, basic_topic_params.merge(category: category.id )) }
     let(:creator_with_meta_data) { PostCreator.new(user, basic_topic_params.merge(meta_data: {hello: "world"} )) }
     let(:creator_with_image_sizes) { PostCreator.new(user, basic_topic_params.merge(image_sizes: image_sizes)) }
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ describe PostCreator do
         reply = nil
 
         messages = MessageBus.track_publish do
-          created_post = PostCreator.new(admin, basic_topic_params.merge(category: cat.name)).create
+          created_post = PostCreator.new(admin, basic_topic_params.merge(category: cat.id)).create
           reply = PostCreator.new(admin, raw: "this is my test reply 123 testing", topic_id: created_post.topic_id).create
         end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/category_featured_topic_spec.rb b/spec/models/category_featured_topic_spec.rb
index bde98f0ee..28119a786 100644
--- a/spec/models/category_featured_topic_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/category_featured_topic_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ describe CategoryFeaturedTopic do
   context 'feature_topics_for' do
     let(:user)           { Fabricate(:user) }
     let(:category)       { Fabricate(:category) }
-    let!(:category_post) { PostCreator.create(user, raw: "I put this post in the category", title: "categorize THIS", category: category.name) }
+    let!(:category_post) { PostCreator.create(user, raw: "I put this post in the category", title: "categorize THIS", category: category.id) }
 
     it "should feature topics for a secure category" do
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe CategoryFeaturedTopic do
     end
 
     it 'should not include invisible topics' do
-      invisible_post = PostCreator.create(user, raw: "Don't look at this post because it's awful.", title: "not visible to anyone", category: category.name)
+      invisible_post = PostCreator.create(user, raw: "Don't look at this post because it's awful.", title: "not visible to anyone", category: category.id)
       invisible_post.topic.update_status('visible', false, Fabricate(:admin))
       CategoryFeaturedTopic.feature_topics_for(category)
       CategoryFeaturedTopic.count.should == 1
diff --git a/test/javascripts/models/composer_test.js b/test/javascripts/models/composer_test.js
index 001fc230c..b0c71193d 100644
--- a/test/javascripts/models/composer_test.js
+++ b/test/javascripts/models/composer_test.js
@@ -180,11 +180,11 @@ test('clearState', function() {
 test('initial category when uncategorized is allowed', function() {
   Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics = true;
   var composer = Discourse.Composer.open({action: 'createTopic', draftKey: 'asfd', draftSequence: 1});
-  equal(composer.get('categoryName'),undefined,"Uncategorized by default");
+  equal(composer.get('categoryId'),undefined,"Uncategorized by default");
 });
 
 test('initial category when uncategorized is not allowed', function() {
   Discourse.SiteSettings.allow_uncategorized_topics = false;
   var composer = Discourse.Composer.open({action: 'createTopic', draftKey: 'asfd', draftSequence: 1});
-  ok(composer.get('categoryName') !== undefined, "Not uncategorized by default");
+  ok(composer.get('categoryId') !== undefined, "Not uncategorized by default");
 });
\ No newline at end of file