diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fb4745c..0f0118e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ set(CMAKE_DOCDIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/doc/${PROJECT_NAME}-${VERSION} CA
 
 # set default terminal for user
 set(WMFS_TERM xterm)
+# get the user compiling this thing
+SET(USERNAME $ENV{USER})
+
 
 # configure files
 set(CONFIGURE_FILES
diff --git a/src/config.h.in b/src/config.h.in
index 25a9a69..77d88bd 100644
--- a/src/config.h.in
+++ b/src/config.h.in
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 
 #define WMFS_VERSION         "@VERSION@"
 #define WMFS_COMPILE_MACHINE "@CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR@"
-#define WMFS_COMPILE_BY      "@ENV{USER}@"
+#define WMFS_COMPILE_BY      "@USERNAME@"
 #define WMFS_COMPILE_FLAGS   "@CMAKE_C_FLAGS@"
 #define WMFS_LINKED_LIBS     "@CMAKE_LINK_LIBRARIES@"
 #define XDG_CONFIG_DIR       "@CMAKE_XDGCONFDIR@"