diff --git a/budgit/server/services/CategoriesService.js b/budgit/server/services/CategoriesService.js
index 56569f0..f4622d1 100644
--- a/budgit/server/services/CategoriesService.js
+++ b/budgit/server/services/CategoriesService.js
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class CategoriesService {
     if (!category) {
       throw new BadRequest('category does not exist')
     }
+    // TODO this needs to reallocate all transactions under this category to unassigned
     category.remove()
     return category
   }
diff --git a/budgit/server/services/TransactionsService.js b/budgit/server/services/TransactionsService.js
index 1c14064..8c8c615 100644
--- a/budgit/server/services/TransactionsService.js
+++ b/budgit/server/services/TransactionsService.js
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import { logger } from '../utils/Logger'
 
 class TransactionsService {
 async create(newTransaction) {
+  if (newTransaction.categoryId == '') {
+    newTransaction.categoryId = null
+  }
   const dbTransaction = await dbContext.Transactions.create(newTransaction)
   if (!dbTransaction) {
     throw new BadRequest("transaction does not exist")