diff --git a/question/editlib.php b/question/editlib.php
index 1ce4e085507..2f5c45c1539 100644
--- a/question/editlib.php
+++ b/question/editlib.php
@@ -637,8 +637,10 @@ function question_edit_setup($edittab, $requirecmid = false, $requirecourseid =
     //a new cat.
     $pagevars['cat'] = optional_param('cat', 0, PARAM_SEQUENCE);// if empty will be set up later
     if  ($category = optional_param('category', 0, PARAM_SEQUENCE)){
-        $pagevars['cat'] = $category;
-        $pagevars['qpage'] = 0;
+        if ($pagevars['cat'] != $category){ // is this a move to a new category?
+            $pagevars['cat'] = $category;
+            $pagevars['qpage'] = 0;
+        }
     }
     if ($pagevars['cat']){
         $thispageurl->param('cat', $pagevars['cat']);