diff --git a/app/controllers/list_controller.rb b/app/controllers/list_controller.rb
index ec901ddb638..8fea454ebf0 100644
--- a/app/controllers/list_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/list_controller.rb
@@ -110,10 +110,13 @@ class ListController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def category_default
-    if @category.default_view == 'top'
+    view_method = @category.default_view
+    view_method = 'latest' unless %w(latest top).include?(view_method)
+
+    if view_method == 'top'
       top(category: @category.id)
     else
-      self.send(@category.default_view || 'latest')
+      self.send(view_method)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/controllers/list_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/list_controller_spec.rb
index 9673858aaa3..0c5b41596bc 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/list_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/list_controller_spec.rb
@@ -192,26 +192,34 @@ describe ListController do
       end
 
       describe "category default views" do
-        it "top default view" do
+        it "has a top default view" do
           category.update_attributes!(default_view: 'top', default_top_period: 'monthly')
           described_class.expects(:best_period_with_topics_for).with(anything, category.id, :monthly).returns(:monthly)
           xhr :get, :category_default, category: category.slug
           expect(response).to be_success
         end
 
-        it "default view is nil" do
+        it "has a default view of nil" do
           category.update_attributes!(default_view: nil)
           described_class.expects(:best_period_for).never
           xhr :get, :category_default, category: category.slug
           expect(response).to be_success
         end
 
-        it "default view is latest" do
+        it "has a default view of ''" do
+          category.update_attributes!(default_view: '')
+          described_class.expects(:best_period_for).never
+          xhr :get, :category_default, category: category.slug
+          expect(response).to be_success
+        end
+
+        it "has a default view of latest" do
           category.update_attributes!(default_view: 'latest')
           described_class.expects(:best_period_for).never
           xhr :get, :category_default, category: category.slug
           expect(response).to be_success
         end
+
       end
     end
   end