diff --git a/wiki/forms.py b/wiki/forms.py
index 6519631b9..9839e5bf0 100644
--- a/wiki/forms.py
+++ b/wiki/forms.py
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ def __init__(self, article, request, *args, **kwargs):
             self.fields['recursive_owner'].widget = forms.HiddenInput()
             self.fields['locked'].widget = forms.HiddenInput()
         
-        self.fields['owner_username'].initial = article.owner.username if article.owner else ""
+        self.fields['owner_username'].initial = getattr(article.owner, User.USERNAME_FIELD) if article.owner else ""
     
     def clean_owner_username(self):
         if self.can_assign: