diff --git a/public/src/client/topic/delete-posts.js b/public/src/client/topic/delete-posts.js
index 58b4058f09..8e01a839e0 100644
--- a/public/src/client/topic/delete-posts.js
+++ b/public/src/client/topic/delete-posts.js
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ define('forum/topic/delete-posts', [
 			postSelect.init(function () {
 				checkButtonEnable();
 				showPostsSelected();
+			}, {
+				allowMainPostSelect: true,
 			});
 			showPostsSelected();
 
diff --git a/src/categories/create.js b/src/categories/create.js
index f2e8f8811d..d9d59dac59 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);