diff --git a/api/fedora_item.inc b/api/fedora_item.inc
index 4a26e516..8a767c04 100644
--- a/api/fedora_item.inc
+++ b/api/fedora_item.inc
@@ -1466,7 +1466,9 @@ RDF;
    * @param string $pid if none given, getnextpid will be called.
    * @param string $state The initial state, A - Active, I - Inactive, D - Deleted
    * @param type $label
-   * @param type $owner
+   * @param string $owner
+   *   Used to set an object's ownerId attribute.  Defaults to current user's
+   *   name.
    *
    * @return DOMDocument
    */
@@ -1480,8 +1482,8 @@ RDF;
     if (empty($owner)) {
       global $user;
       // Default to current Drupal user.
-      if (!empty($user->uid)) {
-        $owner = $user->uid;
+      if (!empty($user->name)) {
+        $owner = $user->name;
       }
       // We are not inside Drupal.
       else {