diff --git a/Allura/allura/controllers/trovecategories.py b/Allura/allura/controllers/trovecategories.py
index d0f191e..133638a 100644
--- a/Allura/allura/controllers/trovecategories.py
+++ b/Allura/allura/controllers/trovecategories.py
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@
         }
         return dict(tree=OrderedDict(sorted(tree.iteritems())))
 
-
-    def _create(self, name, upper_id, shortname):
+    @classmethod
+    def _create(cls, name, upper_id, shortname):
 
         upper = M.TroveCategory.query.get(trove_cat_id=upper_id)
         if upper_id == 0: