diff --git a/src/www/firewall_nat_1to1_edit.php b/src/www/firewall_nat_1to1_edit.php
index 3f720023e..64cddfaf0 100644
--- a/src/www/firewall_nat_1to1_edit.php
+++ b/src/www/firewall_nat_1to1_edit.php
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ include("head.inc");
   <?php
                       foreach ((new OPNsense\Firewall\Category())->iterateCategories() as $category):
                         $catname = htmlspecialchars($category['name'], ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML401);?>
-                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
+                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=!empty($pconfig['category']) && in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
   <?php
                       endforeach;?>
                       </select>
diff --git a/src/www/firewall_nat_edit.php b/src/www/firewall_nat_edit.php
index 9691399fe..a722a42af 100644
--- a/src/www/firewall_nat_edit.php
+++ b/src/www/firewall_nat_edit.php
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ $( document ).ready(function() {
 <?php
                     foreach ((new OPNsense\Firewall\Category())->iterateCategories() as $category):
                       $catname = htmlspecialchars($category['name'], ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML401);?>
-                      <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
+                      <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=!empty($pconfig['category']) && in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
 <?php
                     endforeach;?>
                     </select>
diff --git a/src/www/firewall_nat_npt_edit.php b/src/www/firewall_nat_npt_edit.php
index bbddbb4cf..47c2cc108 100644
--- a/src/www/firewall_nat_npt_edit.php
+++ b/src/www/firewall_nat_npt_edit.php
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ $( document ).ready(function() {
   <?php
                       foreach ((new OPNsense\Firewall\Category())->iterateCategories() as $category):
                         $catname = htmlspecialchars($category['name'], ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML401);?>
-                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
+                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=!empty($pconfig['category']) && in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
   <?php
                       endforeach;?>
                       </select>
diff --git a/src/www/firewall_nat_out_edit.php b/src/www/firewall_nat_out_edit.php
index 85178cc15..0620025fc 100644
--- a/src/www/firewall_nat_out_edit.php
+++ b/src/www/firewall_nat_out_edit.php
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ include("head.inc");
 <?php
                     foreach ((new OPNsense\Firewall\Category())->iterateCategories() as $category):
                       $catname = htmlspecialchars($category['name'], ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML401);?>
-                      <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
+                      <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=!empty($pconfig['category']) && in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
 <?php
                     endforeach;?>
                     </select>
diff --git a/src/www/firewall_rules_edit.php b/src/www/firewall_rules_edit.php
index 8767438fe..c93ea50c8 100644
--- a/src/www/firewall_rules_edit.php
+++ b/src/www/firewall_rules_edit.php
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ include("head.inc");
 <?php
                       foreach ((new OPNsense\Firewall\Category())->iterateCategories() as $category):
                         $catname = htmlspecialchars($category['name'], ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML401);?>
-                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
+                        <option value="<?=$catname;?>" <?=!empty($pconfig['category']) && in_array($catname, $pconfig['category']) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';?> ><?=$catname;?></option>
 <?php
                       endforeach;?>
                       </select>