diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/category.json b/public/language/en-GB/category.json
index a0498414fb..faa58d2406 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/category.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/category.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 	"new-topic-button": "New Topic",
 	"guest-login-post": "Log in to post",
 	"no-topics": "<strong>There are no topics in this category.</strong><br />Why don't you try posting one?",
+	"no-followers": "Nobody on this website is tracking or watching this category. Track or watch this category in order to begin receiving updates.",
 
 	"browsing": "browsing",
 	"no-replies": "No one has replied",
diff --git a/src/categories/index.js b/src/categories/index.js
index 1a254f9b15..308516cd97 100644
--- a/src/categories/index.js
+++ b/src/categories/index.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const user = require('../user');
 const topics = require('../topics');
 const plugins = require('../plugins');
 const privileges = require('../privileges');
+const activitypub = require('../activitypub');
 const cache = require('../cache');
 const meta = require('../meta');
 const utils = require('../utils');
@@ -57,12 +58,13 @@ Categories.getCategoryById = async function (data) {
 		Categories.getTopicCount(data),
 		Categories.getWatchState([data.cid], data.uid),
 		getChildrenTree(category, data.uid),
+		!utils.isNumber(data.cid) ? activitypub.actors.getLocalFollowers(data.cid) : null,
 	];
 
 	if (category.parentCid) {
 		promises.push(Categories.getCategoryData(category.parentCid));
 	}
-	const [topics, topicCount, watchState, , parent] = await Promise.all(promises);
+	const [topics, topicCount, watchState, , localFollowers, parent] = await Promise.all(promises);
 
 	category.topics = topics.topics;
 	category.nextStart = topics.nextStart;
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ Categories.getCategoryById = async function (data) {
 	category.isTracked = watchState[0] === Categories.watchStates.tracking;
 	category.isNotWatched = watchState[0] === Categories.watchStates.notwatching;
 	category.isIgnored = watchState[0] === Categories.watchStates.ignoring;
+	category.hasFollowers = localFollowers ? (localFollowers.uids.size + localFollowers.cids.size) > 0 : localFollowers;
 	category.parent = parent;
 
 	calculateTopicPostCount(category);