diff --git a/Model/Service/Product/Category/DefaultCategoryService.php b/Model/Service/Product/Category/DefaultCategoryService.php
index a714e416c..e36cfa8d7 100644
--- a/Model/Service/Product/Category/DefaultCategoryService.php
+++ b/Model/Service/Product/Category/DefaultCategoryService.php
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ public function getCategory(Category $category, StoreInterface $store)
                 ['categoryString' => $nostoCategory, 'magentoCategory' => $category]
             );
         }
-        return trim($nostoCategory);
+
+        return $nostoCategory ? trim($nostoCategory) : $nostoCategory;
     }
 
     /**