diff --git a/backend/django/core/models.py b/backend/django/core/models.py
index fb187cfa..cf33beb2 100644
--- a/backend/django/core/models.py
+++ b/backend/django/core/models.py
@@ -416,10 +416,12 @@ def __str__(self):
         return self.field_name
 
     def get_unique_options(self):
-        unique_list = list(
-            set(self.labelmetadata_set.all().values_list("value", flat=True))
+        unique_list = (
+            self.labelmetadata_set.all()
+            .order_by("value")
+            .values_list("value", flat=True)
+            .distinct()
         )
-        unique_list.sort()
         return unique_list
 
 
diff --git a/backend/django/core/views/api_annotate.py b/backend/django/core/views/api_annotate.py
index 98de28d6..75398dd0 100644
--- a/backend/django/core/views/api_annotate.py
+++ b/backend/django/core/views/api_annotate.py
@@ -79,12 +79,17 @@ def get_queryset(self):
         filter_text = self.request.GET.get("searchString")
 
         label_category = self.request.GET.get("category")
-        if label_category and label_category != "all":
-            if label_category == "None":
-                category_label_list = LabelMetaData.objects.filter(
-                    label_metadata_field=project.category.label_metadata_field,
-                    value="nan",
-                ).values_list("label__pk", flat=True)
+        if hasattr(project, "category") and label_category != "all":
+            if label_category == "None" or label_category == "":
+                category_label_list = (
+                    LabelMetaData.objects.filter(
+                        label_metadata_field=project.category.label_metadata_field
+                    )
+                    .filter(
+                        Q(value__isnull=True) | Q(value="nan"),
+                    )
+                    .values_list("label__pk", flat=True)
+                )
             else:
                 category_label_list = LabelMetaData.objects.filter(
                     label_metadata_field=project.category.label_metadata_field,