diff --git a/src/categories/create.js b/src/categories/create.js
index f2e8f8811d..f12b2f071b 100644
--- a/src/categories/create.js
+++ b/src/categories/create.js
@@ -151,7 +151,15 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 	}
 
 	async function generateHandle(slug) {
-		let taken = await meta.slugTaken(slug);
+		let taken;
+		try {
+			taken = await meta.slugTaken(slug);
+		} catch (e) {
+			// invalid slug passed in
+			slug = 'category';
+			taken = true
+		}
+
 		let suffix;
 		while (taken) {
 			suffix = utils.generateUUID().slice(0, 8);