diff --git a/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/emoji/update.ts b/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/emoji/update.ts
index cffc2dfdf2..2493b62c2a 100644
--- a/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/emoji/update.ts
+++ b/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/emoji/update.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const meta = {
 		},
 
 		category: {
-			validator: $.optional.str
+			validator: $.optional.nullable.str
 		},
 
 		aliases: {