diff --git a/public/src/client/search.js b/public/src/client/search.js
index c7330f1ab8..adee1adaee 100644
--- a/public/src/client/search.js
+++ b/public/src/client/search.js
@@ -80,9 +80,11 @@ define('forum/search', ['search', 'autocomplete'], function(searchModule, autoco
 				$('#posted-by-user').val(params.by);
 			}
 
-			if (params.categories) {
-				$('#posted-in-categories').val(params.categories);
-			}
+			loadCategories(function() {
+				if (params.categories) {
+					$('#posted-in-categories').val(params.categories);
+				}
+			});
 
 			if (params.searchChildren) {
 				$('#search-children').prop('checked', true);
@@ -112,6 +114,38 @@ define('forum/search', ['search', 'autocomplete'], function(searchModule, autoco
 		}
 	}
 
+	function loadCategories(callback) {
+		var listEl = $('#posted-in-categories');
+
+		socket.emit('categories.getCategoriesByPrivilege', 'read', function(err, categories) {
+			if (err) {
+				return app.alertError(err.message);
+			}
+
+			categories = categories.filter(function(category) {
+				return !category.link && !parseInt(category.parentCid, 10);
+			});
+
+			categories.forEach(function(category) {
+				recursive(category, listEl, '');
+			});
+			listEl.attr('size', listEl.find('option').length);
+			callback();
+		});
+	}
+
+	function recursive(category, listEl, level) {
+		if (category.link) {
+			return;
+		}
+		var bullet = level ? '• ' : '';
+		$('<option value="' + category.cid + '">' + level + bullet + category.name + '</option>').appendTo(listEl);
+
+		category.children.forEach(function(child) {
+			recursive(child, listEl, '&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;' + level);
+		});
+	}
+
 	function highlightMatches(searchQuery) {
 		if (!searchQuery) {
 			return;
diff --git a/src/controllers/search.js b/src/controllers/search.js
index 5da395c2b8..874cbea1a2 100644
--- a/src/controllers/search.js
+++ b/src/controllers/search.js
@@ -15,60 +15,46 @@ searchController.search = function(req, res, next) {
 		return next();
 	}
 
-	var breadcrumbs = helpers.buildBreadcrumbs([{text: '[[global:search]]'}]);
+	req.params.term = validator.escape(req.params.term);
+	var page = Math.max(1, parseInt(req.query.page, 10)) || 1;
+	if (req.query.categories && !Array.isArray(req.query.categories)) {
+		req.query.categories = [req.query.categories];
+	}
 
-	categories.getCategoriesByPrivilege('categories:cid', req.uid, 'read', function(err, categories) {
+	var data = {
+		query: req.params.term,
+		searchIn: req.query.in || 'posts',
+		postedBy: req.query.by,
+		categories: req.query.categories,
+		searchChildren: req.query.searchChildren,
+		replies: req.query.replies,
+		repliesFilter: req.query.repliesFilter,
+		timeRange: req.query.timeRange,
+		timeFilter: req.query.timeFilter,
+		sortBy: req.query.sortBy,
+		sortDirection: req.query.sortDirection,
+		page: page,
+		uid: req.uid
+	};
+
+	search.search(data, function(err, results) {
 		if (err) {
 			return next(err);
 		}
 
-		categories = categories.filter(function(category) {
-			return category && !category.link;
-		});
-
-		req.params.term = validator.escape(req.params.term);
-		var page = Math.max(1, parseInt(req.query.page, 10)) || 1;
-		if (req.query.categories && !Array.isArray(req.query.categories)) {
-			req.query.categories = [req.query.categories];
-		}
-
-		var data = {
-			query: req.params.term,
-			searchIn: req.query.in || 'posts',
-			postedBy: req.query.by,
-			categories: req.query.categories,
-			searchChildren: req.query.searchChildren,
-			replies: req.query.replies,
-			repliesFilter: req.query.repliesFilter,
-			timeRange: req.query.timeRange,
-			timeFilter: req.query.timeFilter,
-			sortBy: req.query.sortBy,
-			sortDirection: req.query.sortDirection,
-			page: page,
-			uid: req.uid
-		};
+		results.pagination = pagination.create(page, results.pageCount, req.query);
+		results.showAsPosts = !req.query.showAs || req.query.showAs === 'posts';
+		results.showAsTopics = req.query.showAs === 'topics';
+		results.breadcrumbs = helpers.buildBreadcrumbs([{text: '[[global:search]]'}]);
+		results.expandSearch = !req.params.term;
 
-		search.search(data, function(err, results) {
+		plugins.fireHook('filter:search.build', {data: data, results: results}, function(err, data) {
 			if (err) {
 				return next(err);
 			}
-
-			results.pagination = pagination.create(page, results.pageCount, req.query);
-			results.showAsPosts = !req.query.showAs || req.query.showAs === 'posts';
-			results.showAsTopics = req.query.showAs === 'topics';
-			results.breadcrumbs = breadcrumbs;
-			results.categories = categories;
-			results.expandSearch = !req.params.term;
-
-			plugins.fireHook('filter:search.build', {data: data, results: results}, function(err, data) {
-				if (err) {
-					return next(err);
-				}
-				res.render('search', data.results);
-			});
+			res.render('search', data.results);
 		});
 	});
 };
 
-
 module.exports = searchController;