diff --git a/opentech/apply/categories/blocks.py b/opentech/apply/categories/blocks.py
index b50ebba7ef8c4217c865dd9cccf4bd79e76d3da6..02359dc54c454236183c6407d962f59fc8e4c687 100644
--- a/opentech/apply/categories/blocks.py
+++ b/opentech/apply/categories/blocks.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class CategoryQuestionBlock(OptionalFormFieldBlock):
     def render(self, value, context):
         data = context['data']
         category = value['category']
-        if data != self.no_response():
+        if data:
             context['data'] = category.options.filter(id__in=data).values_list('value', flat=True)
         return super().render(value, context)
 
diff --git a/opentech/apply/categories/tests/test_blocks.py b/opentech/apply/categories/tests/test_blocks.py
index 979b4df24b1f67136d247612a6724e306df7f0f2..c436308019ffc4e913bc109e999e2f6e576de9e4 100644
--- a/opentech/apply/categories/tests/test_blocks.py
+++ b/opentech/apply/categories/tests/test_blocks.py
@@ -54,7 +54,5 @@ class TestCategoryQuestionBlock(TestCase):
         )
 
     def test_can_render_if_no_response(self):
-        context = self.block.get_context(None, {'data': None})
-        self.assertEqual(context['data'], self.block.no_response())
-        display = self.block.render({'category': self.category}, context)
+        display = self.block.render({'category': self.category}, {'data': None})
         self.assertIn(self.block.no_response()[0], display)