diff --git a/components/com_content/models/category.php b/components/com_content/models/category.php
index 50c66d0efa168..ebd7fd563cf40 100644
--- a/components/com_content/models/category.php
+++ b/components/com_content/models/category.php
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ protected function populateState($ordering = null, $direction = null)
 
 		$itemid = $app->input->get('id', 0, 'int') . ':' . $app->input->get('Itemid', 0, 'int');
 
-		$value = $this->getUserStateFromRequest('com_content.category.filter.' . $itemid . '.tag', 'filter_tag', 0, 'int');
+		$value = $this->getUserStateFromRequest('com_content.category.filter.' . $itemid . '.tag', 'filter_tag', 0, 'int', false);
 		$this->setState('filter.tag', $value);
 
 		// Optional filter text