diff --git a/newswire.py b/newswire.py
index d0da7bb3..0bad590f 100644
--- a/newswire.py
+++ b/newswire.py
@@ -215,11 +215,12 @@ def loadHashtagCategories(baseDir: str, language: str) -> None:
 
     with open(hashtagCategoriesFilename, 'r') as fp:
         xmlStr = fp.read()
-        xml2StrToHashtagCategories(baseDir, xmlStr, 1024)
+        xml2StrToHashtagCategories(baseDir, xmlStr, 1024, True)
 
 
 def xml2StrToHashtagCategories(baseDir: str, xmlStr: str,
-                               maxCategoriesFeedItemSizeKb: int) -> None:
+                               maxCategoriesFeedItemSizeKb: int,
+                               force=False) -> None:
     """Updates hashtag categories based upon an rss feed
     """
     rssItems = xmlStr.split('<item>')
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ def xml2StrToHashtagCategories(baseDir: str, xmlStr: str,
         hashtagList = hashtagListStr.split(' ')
         if not isBlockedHashtag(baseDir, categoryStr):
             for hashtag in hashtagList:
-                setHashtagCategory(baseDir, hashtag, categoryStr)
+                setHashtagCategory(baseDir, hashtag, categoryStr, force)
 
 
 def xml2StrToDict(baseDir: str, domain: str, xmlStr: str,
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 414f46bd..4a7b16e7 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -112,23 +112,29 @@ def validHashtagCategory(category: str) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-def setHashtagCategory(baseDir: str, hashtag: str, category: str) -> bool:
+def setHashtagCategory(baseDir: str, hashtag: str, category: str,
+                       force=False) -> bool:
     """Sets the category for the hashtag
     """
     if not validHashtagCategory(category):
         return False
 
-    hashtagFilename = baseDir + '/tags/' + hashtag + '.txt'
-    if not os.path.isfile(hashtagFilename):
-        hashtag = hashtag.title()
+    if not force:
         hashtagFilename = baseDir + '/tags/' + hashtag + '.txt'
         if not os.path.isfile(hashtagFilename):
-            hashtag = hashtag.upper()
+            hashtag = hashtag.title()
             hashtagFilename = baseDir + '/tags/' + hashtag + '.txt'
             if not os.path.isfile(hashtagFilename):
-                return False
+                hashtag = hashtag.upper()
+                hashtagFilename = baseDir + '/tags/' + hashtag + '.txt'
+                if not os.path.isfile(hashtagFilename):
+                    return False
 
     categoryFilename = baseDir + '/tags/' + hashtag + '.category'
+    if force:
+        # don't overwrite any existing categories
+        if os.path.isfile(categoryFilename):
+            return False
     with open(categoryFilename, 'w+') as fp:
         fp.write(category)
         updateHashtagCategories(baseDir)