diff --git a/app/models/category_list.rb b/app/models/category_list.rb
index 09d555636..38a842966 100644
--- a/app/models/category_list.rb
+++ b/app/models/category_list.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class CategoryList
                     .includes(:featured_users)
                     .order('topics_week desc, topics_month desc, topics_year desc')
                     .to_a
-
+                  
     # Support for uncategorized topics
     uncategorized_topics = Topic
                       .listable_topics
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@ class CategoryList
       @categories.insert(insert_at || @categories.size, uncategorized)
     end
 
-    # Remove categories with no featured topics
-    @categories.delete_if {|c| c.featured_topics.blank? }
+    # Remove categories with no featured topics unless we have the ability to edit one
+    unless Guardian.new(current_user).can_create?(Category)
+      @categories.delete_if {|c| c.featured_topics.blank? }
+    end
 
     # Get forum topic user records if appropriate
     if current_user.present?
diff --git a/spec/components/category_list_spec.rb b/spec/components/category_list_spec.rb
index 809ed2ca2..b88525a7b 100644
--- a/spec/components/category_list_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/category_list_spec.rb
@@ -42,12 +42,23 @@ describe CategoryList do
 
   context "with a category" do
 
-    let(:topic_category) { Fabricate(:category) }
+    let!(:topic_category) { Fabricate(:category) }
+
+    context "without a featured topic" do
+
+      it "should not return empty categories" do
+        category_list.categories.should be_blank
+      end
+
+      it "returns empty categories for those who can create them" do
+        Guardian.any_instance.expects(:can_create?).with(Category).returns(true)
+        category_list.categories.should be_present
+      end
+
 
-    it "should not return empty categories (no featured topics)" do
-      category_list.categories.should be_blank
     end
 
+
     context "with a topic in a category" do
       let!(:topic) { Fabricate(:topic, category: topic_category)}
       let(:category) { category_list.categories.first }