diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py b/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
index 311d6d64..4cd2fdf3 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ def _workflow_engine_env_vars(self):
         """Return necessary environment variables for the workflow engine."""
         env_vars = list(WorkflowRunManager.engine_mapping[
             self.workflow.type_]['environment_variables'])
+        env_vars.extend([{
+            'name': 'REANA_USERNAME',
+            'value': str(self.workflow.owner_id)
+        }])
         cvmfs_volumes = 'false'
         for resource, value in self.workflow.reana_specification['workflow'].\
                 get('resources', {}).items():