diff --git a/admin/category.php b/admin/category.php
index c87022bbebac2..f15fafb8628a5 100644
--- a/admin/category.php
+++ b/admin/category.php
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
 if ($PAGE->user_allowed_editing() && $adminediting != -1) {
     $USER->editing = $adminediting;
 }
-
+$buttons = null;
 if ($PAGE->user_allowed_editing()) {
     $url = clone($PAGE->url);
     if ($PAGE->user_is_editing()) {
@@ -129,7 +129,9 @@
 $visiblepathtosection = array_reverse($settingspage->visiblepath);
 $PAGE->set_title("$SITE->shortname: " . implode(": ",$visiblepathtosection));
 $PAGE->set_heading($SITE->fullname);
-$PAGE->set_button($buttons);
+if ($buttons) {
+    $PAGE->set_button($buttons);
+}
 
 echo $OUTPUT->header();