diff --git a/submit.yml.erb b/submit.yml.erb
index 651b8d87c7dd87037f1a2ef3702470f3ad748223..c20d6afdec0e16a9407cf76f1d34c9976cbb2eec 100644
--- a/submit.yml.erb
+++ b/submit.yml.erb
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 batch_connect:
   template: "vnc"
 script:
+  job_environment:
+    USER: "<%= ENV['USER'] %>"
   native:
     - "-N 1"
     - "-n <%= bc_num_slots.blank? ? 1 : bc_num_slots.to_i %>"