diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
index 0481339ee..e3f9ff030 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
@@ -2049,13 +2049,15 @@ class DbGeneric(DbWriteBase, DbReadBase, UpdateCallback, Callback):
     def _order_by_tag_key(self, key):
         return glocale.sort_key(key)
 
-    def backup(self):
+    def backup(self, user=None):
         """
         If you wish to support an optional backup routine, put it here.
         """
         from gramps.plugins.export.exportxml import XmlWriter
         from gramps.cli.user import User
-        writer = XmlWriter(self, User(), strip_photos=0, compress=1)
+        if user is None:
+            user = User()
+        writer = XmlWriter(self, user, strip_photos=0, compress=1)
         timestamp = '{0:%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S}'.format(datetime.datetime.now())
         filename = os.path.join(self._directory, "backup-%s.gramps" % timestamp)
         writer.write(filename)
diff --git a/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py b/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
index 773e640f3..8cb9104e2 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ class ViewManager(CLIManager):
             self.uistate.progress.show()
             self.uistate.push_message(self.dbstate, _("Autobackup..."))
             try:
-                self.dbstate.db.backup()
+                self.dbstate.db.backup(user=self.user)
             except DbException as msg:
                 ErrorDialog(_("Error saving backup data"), msg,
                             parent=self.uistate.window)
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
index 5cc9237e6..626f4ce62 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
@@ -2471,7 +2471,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
         """
         return DbTxn
 
-    def backup(self):
+    def backup(self, user=None):
         """
         Exports the database to a set of backup files. These files consist
         of the pickled database tables, one file for each table.