diff --git a/script/import_scripts/base.rb b/script/import_scripts/base.rb
index 05d66b0d1d8..c45f36f77c9 100644
--- a/script/import_scripts/base.rb
+++ b/script/import_scripts/base.rb
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class ImportScripts::Base
     @old_site_settings = {}
     @start_times = { import: Time.now }
     @skip_updates = false
+    @next_category_color_index = {}
   end
 
   def preload_i18n
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class ImportScripts::Base
       user_id: opts[:user_id] || opts[:user].try(:id) || Discourse::SYSTEM_USER_ID,
       position: opts[:position],
       parent_category_id: opts[:parent_category_id],
-      color: opts[:color] || category_color,
+      color: opts[:color] || category_color(opts[:parent_category_id]),
       text_color: opts[:text_color] || "FFF",
       read_restricted: opts[:read_restricted] || false,
     )
@@ -466,11 +467,11 @@ class ImportScripts::Base
     new_category
   end
 
-  def category_color
+  def category_color(parent_category_id)
     @category_colors ||= SiteSetting.category_colors.split('|')
 
-    index = @next_category_color_index.presence || 0
-    @next_category_color_index = index + 1 >= @category_colors.count ? 0 : index + 1
+    index = @next_category_color_index[parent_category_id].presence || 0
+    @next_category_color_index[parent_category_id] = index + 1 >= @category_colors.count ? 0 : index + 1
 
     @category_colors[index]
   end