diff --git a/public/js/app.js b/public/js/app.js
index 70b7b6c..d012c50 100644
--- a/public/js/app.js
+++ b/public/js/app.js
@@ -494,7 +494,8 @@ async function confirmDelete(hashes) {
 
 /* ---------- add torrent modal ---------- */
 function openAddModal() {
-  const cats = state.meta.categories.map((c) => `<option value="${f.esc(c.name)}">${f.esc(c.name || 'Uncategorized')}</option>`).join('');
+  const cats = '<option value="" selected>Uncategorized</option>' +
+    state.meta.categories.map((c) => `<option value="${f.esc(c.name)}">${f.esc(c.name || 'Uncategorized')}</option>`).join('');
   openModal('Add torrent', `
     <div class="field"><label>Magnet link / URL</label>
       <input type="text" id="addMagnet" placeholder="magnet:?xt=urn:btih:…" /></div>
@@ -689,7 +690,10 @@ function onRowContext(e, hash) {
 }
 
 function promptCategory() {
-  const opts = state.meta.categories.map((c) => `<option value="${f.esc(c.name)}">${f.esc(c.name || 'Uncategorized')}</option>`).join('');
+  const cur = state.snapshot?.torrents?.find((t) => t.hash === [...state.selected][0])?.category || '';
+  const sel = (v) => (v === cur ? ' selected' : '');
+  const opts = `<option value=""${sel('')}>Uncategorized</option>` +
+    state.meta.categories.map((c) => `<option value="${f.esc(c.name)}"${sel(c.name)}>${f.esc(c.name || 'Uncategorized')}</option>`).join('');
   openModal('Set category', `
     <div class="field"><label>Category</label><select id="catSel">${opts}</select></div>
     <p class="dim" style="font-size:12px">Need a new one? Use <b>+</b> next to “Categories” in the sidebar.</p>`,