diff --git a/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
index 09dd6441b76..265a7651565 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ module CategoryGuardian
 
   def can_see_category?(category)
     return false unless category
-    return true if is_admin?
+    return true if is_admin? && !SiteSetting.suppress_secured_categories_from_admin
     return true if !category.read_restricted
     return true if is_staged? && category.email_in.present? && category.email_in_allow_strangers
     secure_category_ids.include?(category.id)
diff --git a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
index 886d0e49a62..ae6dd0bed30 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ module TopicGuardian
   def can_see_topic_ids(topic_ids: [], hide_deleted: true)
     topic_ids = topic_ids.compact
 
-    return topic_ids if is_admin?
+    return topic_ids if is_admin? && !SiteSetting.suppress_secured_categories_from_admin
     return [] if topic_ids.blank?
 
     default_scope = Topic.unscoped.where(id: topic_ids)
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ module TopicGuardian
 
   def can_see_topic?(topic, hide_deleted = true)
     return false unless topic
-    return true if is_admin?
+    return true if is_admin? && !SiteSetting.suppress_secured_categories_from_admin
     return false if hide_deleted && topic.deleted_at && !can_see_deleted_topics?(topic.category)
 
     if topic.private_message?
diff --git a/spec/lib/guardian/topic_guardian_spec.rb b/spec/lib/guardian/topic_guardian_spec.rb
index d81aa81caf3..8acc15b1576 100644
--- a/spec/lib/guardian/topic_guardian_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/guardian/topic_guardian_spec.rb
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ RSpec.describe TopicGuardian do
         list = guardian.filter_allowed_categories(list)
 
         expect(list.count).to eq(0)
+
+        expect(guardian.can_see?(private_topic)).to eq(false)
       end
     end
   end