diff --git a/worker.py b/worker.py
index 341ddc4..42313dc 100755
--- a/worker.py
+++ b/worker.py
@@ -13,16 +13,35 @@ logger = Logger()
 
 
 def trigger_export(courseid, categoryid):
-    global MOODLE_PATH, OUTPUT_PATH
     output_name = f"course_{courseid}_{categoryid}_{int(datetime.now().timestamp())}.mbz"
     result = subprocess.run([MOOSH_PATH, "-p", MOODLE_PATH, "course-backup",
                              "-p", OUTPUT_PATH, "-f", output_name, "--template", courseid],
-                            capture_output=True)
-    for line in str(result.stdout).splitlines():
-        logger.debug(line)
+                            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    for message in result.stdout.decode().splitlines():
+        logger.debug(message)
+    for error in result.stderr.decode().splitlines():
+        logger.error(error)
     return output_name
 
 
+def trigger_categories_export():
+    OUTPUT_PATH = Path(OUTPUT_PATH)
+
+    output_name = f"categories_{int(datetime.now().timestamp())}.xml"
+    result = subprocess.run([MOOSH_PATH, "-p", MOODLE_PATH, "category-export", "0"],
+                            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+
+    try:
+        with open(OUTPUT_PATH / output_name, "wb") as xmlfile:
+            xmlfile.write(result.stdout)
+    except IOError as e:
+        logger.error(
+            f"Could not write categories to {OUTPUT_PATH / output_name}: {e}")
+
+    for error in result.stderr.decode().splitlines():
+        logger.error(error)
+
+
 def main():
     global SIGNAL_PATH, OUTPUT_PATH
     logger.info("Moodle Export Worker starting")
@@ -56,6 +75,20 @@ def main():
             logger.error(
                 f"Export of course {f.name.split('.')[0].split('-')[0]} failed: {e}")
 
+    if (SIGNAL_PATH / "categories.mew").exists():
+        logger.debug(f"Found file categories.mew - processing categories")
+        try:
+            pre = datetime.now()
+            output_name = trigger_categories_export()
+            dur = datetime.now() - pre
+            size = Path(OUTPUT_PATH / output_name).stat().st_size
+            f.unlink()
+            logger.debug(
+                f"Created file {output_name} ({size} bytes) in {dur.seconds} seconds")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(
+                f"Export of categories failed: {e}")
+
     logger.info("Moodle Export Worker done")