diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 856f012a..f5455a27 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ New features:
 
 Bug fixes:
 
+- Don't acquire lanuage from portal root default_language for ICategorization.language.
+  Fixes https://github.com/plone/plone.app.dexterity/issues/258
+  [jaroel]
+
 - Make sure robot autologin test fixture is not accidentally torn down
   when the Dexterity fixture's ZODB sandbox is reverted.
   [davisagli]
diff --git a/plone/app/dexterity/behaviors/metadata.py b/plone/app/dexterity/behaviors/metadata.py
index 13df017b..54b28493 100644
--- a/plone/app/dexterity/behaviors/metadata.py
+++ b/plone/app/dexterity/behaviors/metadata.py
@@ -41,22 +41,27 @@ def default_language(context):
     # this new content is being added
     language = None
 
-    if context is not None and not IPloneSiteRoot.providedBy(context):
-        language = context.Language()
-        if not language:
+    # Try to get the language from context or parent(s)
+    while context is not None and not IPloneSiteRoot.providedBy(context):
+        try:
+            # Use aq_base so the .language attribute isn't acquired from root
+            language = context.aq_base.Language()
+        except AttributeError:  # Accesses .language
             # If we are here, it means we were editing an object that didn't
             # have its language set or that the container where we were adding
             # the new content didn't have a language set. So we check its
-            # parent, unless we are at site's root, in which case we get site's
-            # default language
-            if not IPloneSiteRoot.providedBy(context.aq_parent):
-                language = context.aq_parent.Language()
+            # parent.
+            context = context.__parent__
+
+    pl = getToolByName(getSite(), 'portal_languages')
+    default_language = pl.getDefaultLanguage()
 
     if not language:
-        # Finally, if we still don't have a language, then just use site's
-        # default
-        pl = getToolByName(getSite(), 'portal_languages')
-        language = pl.getDefaultLanguage()
+        language = default_language
+
+    # Is the language supported/enabled at all?
+    if language not in pl.getAvailableLanguages():
+        language = default_language
 
     return language