diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/action/ActionServiceImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/action/ActionServiceImpl.java
index cf325d3c39..a16a2ceccb 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/action/ActionServiceImpl.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/action/ActionServiceImpl.java
@@ -365,6 +365,9 @@ public class ActionServiceImpl implements ActionService, RuntimeActionService, A
             logger.debug("Current action = " + action.getId());
         }
         
+        // get the current user early in case the process fails and we are unable to do it later
+        String currentUserName = this.authenticationComponent.getCurrentUserName();
+        
         if (actionChain == null || actionChain.contains(action.getId()) == false)
         {
             if (logger.isDebugEnabled() == true)
@@ -432,7 +435,7 @@ public class ActionServiceImpl implements ActionService, RuntimeActionService, A
     				if (compensatingAction != null)
     				{					
                         // Set the current user
-                        ((ActionImpl)compensatingAction).setRunAsUser(this.authenticationComponent.getCurrentUserName());
+                        ((ActionImpl)compensatingAction).setRunAsUser(currentUserName);
                         
     					// Queue the compensating action ready for execution                        
     					this.asynchronousActionExecutionQueue.executeAction(this, compensatingAction, actionedUponNodeRef, false, null);