diff --git a/pandas/core/internals/construction.py b/pandas/core/internals/construction.py
index 3126b9d9d3e2e..51535db9208a0 100644
--- a/pandas/core/internals/construction.py
+++ b/pandas/core/internals/construction.py
@@ -223,7 +223,9 @@ def init_dict(data, index, columns, dtype=None):
 
         # no obvious "empty" int column
         if missing.any() and not is_integer_dtype(dtype):
-            if dtype is None or np.issubdtype(dtype, np.flexible):
+            if is_categorical_dtype(dtype):
+                nan_dtype = dtype
+            elif dtype is None or np.issubdtype(dtype, np.flexible):
                 # GH#1783
                 nan_dtype = object
             else:
diff --git a/pandas/tests/frame/test_dtypes.py b/pandas/tests/frame/test_dtypes.py
index 00be13b1c0e72..aa0bc21ec78ee 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/frame/test_dtypes.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/frame/test_dtypes.py
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ def test_empty_frame_dtypes_ftypes(self):
         norows_df = pd.DataFrame(columns=list("abc"))
         assert_series_equal(norows_df.dtypes, pd.Series(np.object, index=list("abc")))
 
+        cat = pd.CategoricalDtype()
+        norows_cat_df = pd.DataFrame(columns=list("abc"), dtype=cat)
+        assert_series_equal(norows_cat_df.dtypes, pd.Series(cat, index=list("abc")))
+
         # GH 26705 - Assert .ftypes is deprecated
         with tm.assert_produces_warning(FutureWarning):
             assert_series_equal(