diff --git a/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_align.py b/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_align.py
index 5dae719283d17..d19b59debfdea 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_align.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_align.py
@@ -129,6 +129,39 @@ def test_align_mixed_int(self, mixed_int_frame):
         )
         tm.assert_index_equal(bf.index, Index([]))
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "l_ordered,r_ordered,expected",
+        [
+            [True, True, pd.CategoricalIndex],
+            [True, False, pd.Index],
+            [False, True, pd.Index],
+            [False, False, pd.CategoricalIndex],
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_align_categorical(self, l_ordered, r_ordered, expected):
+        # GH-28397
+        df_1 = DataFrame(
+            {
+                "A": np.arange(6, dtype="int64"),
+                "B": Series(list("aabbca")).astype(
+                    pd.CategoricalDtype(list("cab"), ordered=l_ordered)
+                ),
+            }
+        ).set_index("B")
+        df_2 = DataFrame(
+            {
+                "A": np.arange(5, dtype="int64"),
+                "B": Series(list("babca")).astype(
+                    pd.CategoricalDtype(list("cab"), ordered=r_ordered)
+                ),
+            }
+        ).set_index("B")
+
+        aligned_1, aligned_2 = df_1.align(df_2)
+        assert isinstance(aligned_1.index, expected)
+        assert isinstance(aligned_2.index, expected)
+        tm.assert_index_equal(aligned_1.index, aligned_2.index)
+
     def test_align_multiindex(self):
         # GH#10665
         # same test cases as test_align_multiindex in test_series.py