diff --git a/pandas/tests/groupby/test_categorical.py b/pandas/tests/groupby/test_categorical.py
index 4049ef46f3006..43e4070b9b163 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/groupby/test_categorical.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/groupby/test_categorical.py
@@ -239,6 +239,28 @@ def test_level_get_group(observed):
     tm.assert_frame_equal(result, expected)
 
 
+def test_sorting_with_different_categoricals():
+    # GH 24271
+    df = DataFrame(
+        {
+            "group": ["A"] * 6 + ["B"] * 6,
+            "dose": ["high", "med", "low"] * 4,
+            "outcomes": np.arange(12.0),
+        }
+    )
+
+    df.dose = Categorical(df.dose, categories=["low", "med", "high"], ordered=True)
+
+    result = df.groupby("group")["dose"].value_counts()
+    result = result.sort_index(level=0, sort_remaining=True)
+    index = ["low", "med", "high", "low", "med", "high"]
+    index = Categorical(index, categories=["low", "med", "high"], ordered=True)
+    index = [["A", "A", "A", "B", "B", "B"], CategoricalIndex(index)]
+    index = MultiIndex.from_arrays(index, names=["group", None])
+    expected = Series([2] * 6, index=index, name="dose")
+    tm.assert_series_equal(result, expected)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("ordered", [True, False])
 def test_apply(ordered):
     # GH 10138