diff --git a/pandas/tests/arrays/categorical/test_constructors.py b/pandas/tests/arrays/categorical/test_constructors.py
index d221ef5373fea..c108ce9fcf100 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/arrays/categorical/test_constructors.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/arrays/categorical/test_constructors.py
@@ -759,3 +759,14 @@ def test_constructor_datetime64_non_nano(self):
 
         cat = Categorical(values, categories=categories)
         assert (cat == values).all()
+
+    def test_constructor_preserves_freq(self):
+        # GH33830 freq retention in categorical
+        dti = date_range("2016-01-01", periods=5)
+
+        expected = dti.freq
+
+        cat = Categorical(dti)
+        result = cat.categories.freq
+
+        assert expected == result