diff --git a/funcs/func_groupcount.c b/funcs/func_groupcount.c
index 281d9d0554..bb2bcf49c1 100644
--- a/funcs/func_groupcount.c
+++ b/funcs/func_groupcount.c
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ static int group_count_function_read(struct ast_channel *chan, char *cmd,
 		}
 		if (gi) {
 			ast_copy_string(group, gi->group, sizeof(group));
-			ast_copy_string(category, gi->category, sizeof(category));
+			if (!ast_strlen_zero(gi->category))
+				ast_copy_string(category, gi->category, sizeof(category));
 		}
 		ast_app_group_list_unlock();
 	}