diff --git a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
index 8b6e4df5..be8e5837 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jobs:
         RENOVATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: renovate-github/
         RENOVATE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.RENOVATE_ENABLED || true }}
         RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "github-actions", "gitlabci", "regex"]'
-        RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: Renovate GitHub Bot <github@renovatebot.com>
+        RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: ${{ vars.RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR || 'Renovate GitHub Bot <github@renovatebot.com>' }}
         RENOVATE_OPTIMIZE_FOR_DISABLED: "true"
         RENOVATE_PLATFORM: github
         RENOVATE_REPOSITORIES: '["${{ github.repository }}"]'
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja b/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja
index 605a62f1..b869b3d8 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
 [%- else -%]
         RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "github-actions", "regex"]'
 [%- endif %]
-        RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: Renovate GitHub Bot <github@renovatebot.com>
+        RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: {{ '${{ vars.RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR || \'Renovate GitHub Bot <github@renovatebot.com>\' }}' }}
         RENOVATE_OPTIMIZE_FOR_DISABLED: "true"
         RENOVATE_PLATFORM: github
         RENOVATE_REPOSITORIES: '["{{ '${{ github.repository }}' }}"]'