diff --git a/pelican/processors.py b/pelican/processors.py
index b532ead1..323be16d 100644
--- a/pelican/processors.py
+++ b/pelican/processors.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ class ArticlesProcessor(Processor):
                 category = os.path.dirname(f).replace(
                     os.path.expanduser(generator.path)+'/', '')
 
+                if category == generator.path:
+                    category = context['DEFAULT_CATEGORY']
+
                 if category != '':
                     metadatas['category'] = unicode(category)
 
diff --git a/pelican/settings.py b/pelican/settings.py
index 3c97bd42..0838e856 100644
--- a/pelican/settings.py
+++ b/pelican/settings.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ _DEFAULT_CONFIG = {'PATH': None,
                    'SITENAME': 'A Pelican Blog',
                    'DISPLAY_PAGES_ON_MENU': True,
                    'PDF_PROCESSOR': False,
+                   'DEFAULT_CATEGORY': 'misc',
                   }
 
 def read_settings(filename):