diff --git a/lib/actions/makePublic.js b/lib/actions/makePublic.js
index 903b8131..bd328963 100644
--- a/lib/actions/makePublic.js
+++ b/lib/actions/makePublic.js
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ module.exports = function (req, res) {
         rootCollectionIdentity: config.get('databasePrefix') + 'public/' + collectionId + '/' + collectionId + '_collection' + '/' + version,
         newRootCollectionDisplayId: collectionId + '_collection',
         newRootCollectionVersion: version,
-        ownedByURI: config.get('databasePrefix') + 'user/' + req.user.username,
+        ownedByURI: config.get('databasePrefix') + 'user/' + req.params.userId,
         creatorName: '',
         citationPubmedIDs: citations,
         overwrite_merge: overwriteMerge,