diff --git a/administrator/components/com_categories/models/fields/categoryedit.php b/administrator/components/com_categories/models/fields/categoryedit.php
index a972f26ddd396..5245e44800665 100644
--- a/administrator/components/com_categories/models/fields/categoryedit.php
+++ b/administrator/components/com_categories/models/fields/categoryedit.php
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ protected function getOptions()
 
 		$db = JFactory::getDbo();
 		$user = JFactory::getUser();
-		$groups = implode(',', $user->getAuthorisedViewLevels());
 
 		$query = $db->getQuery(true)
 			->select('DISTINCT a.id AS value, a.title AS text, a.level, a.published, a.lft');
@@ -186,7 +185,12 @@ protected function getOptions()
 		}
 
 		// Filter categories on User Access Level
-		$subQuery->where('access IN (' . $groups . ')');
+		// Filter by access level on categories.
+		if (!$user->authorise('core.admin'))
+		{
+			$groups = implode(',', $user->getAuthorisedViewLevels());
+			$subQuery->where('access IN (' . $groups . ')');
+		}
 
 		$query->from('(' . (string) $subQuery . ') AS a')
 			->join('LEFT', $db->quoteName('#__categories') . ' AS b ON a.lft > b.lft AND a.rgt < b.rgt');
@@ -257,9 +261,6 @@ protected function getOptions()
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Get the current user object.
-		$user = JFactory::getUser();
-
 		// For new items we want a list of categories you are allowed to create in.
 		if ($oldCat == 0)
 		{