diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/post.php b/wp-admin/includes/post.php
index ec3bd13c1e..800d1aa562 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/post.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/post.php
@@ -165,6 +165,13 @@ function _wp_translate_postdata( $update = false, $post_data = null ) {
 		$post_data['post_date_gmt'] = get_gmt_from_date( $post_data['post_date'] );
 	}
 
+	if ( isset( $post_data['post_category'] ) ) {
+		$category_object = get_taxonomy( 'category' );
+		if ( ! current_user_can( $category_object->cap->assign_terms ) ) {
+			unset( $post_data['post_category'] );
+		}
+	}
+
 	return $post_data;
 }