diff --git a/steward/backup/restoring.py b/steward/backup/restoring.py
index aad27a0..e1d8c0b 100644
--- a/steward/backup/restoring.py
+++ b/steward/backup/restoring.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ async def _run(app, path: Path, name: str, *, username: str, replace_all: bool,
         safety_name = ""
         if safety:
             STATE.step = "Saving a safety backup of Steward as it stands"
-            safety_name = await _safety_backup(app)
+            safety_name = await _safety_backup(app, username)
         STATE.step = "Restoring"
         plugin_dirs = [Path(d) for d in app.config["PLUGIN_DIRS"]]
         if replace_all:
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def _backup_key(path: Path) -> str:
         raise BackupError(f"{path.name} isn't a Steward backup.") from None
 
 
-async def _safety_backup(app) -> str:
+async def _safety_backup(app, username: str) -> str:
     """A backup of Steward as it stands, before anything is replaced: on
     /data/backups always, and on the bucket when one is set. Its run is in
     Recent backups like any other."""
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ async def _safety_backup(app) -> str:
         await put_file(target, made.name, made.path)
     else:
         entry["error"] = "Kept on /data/backups only: no bucket is set up."
-    await _record(app, entry, None, "")
+    await _record(app, entry, None, username)      # the audit row names who restored
     _prune()
     return made.name
 
diff --git a/tests/core/test_restoring.py b/tests/core/test_restoring.py
index 862cf90..8a88dec 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_restoring.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_restoring.py
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ def _stub(monkeypatch, tmp_path, *, restore_error=None, key="k-backup"):
     from steward.core import audit
     seen = {"audits": [], "restarts": 0}
 
-    async def safety(app):
-        seen["safety"] = True
+    async def safety(app, username):
+        seen["safety"] = username
         return "steward-20261015T140000Z.tar"
 
     async def in_place(path, url, plugin_dirs=None):
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ async def _restore(tmp_path):
 async def test_a_restore_saves_a_safety_backup_puts_the_key_in_place_and_restarts(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     seen = _stub(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
     await _restore(tmp_path)
-    assert seen["safety"] and seen["restarts"] == 1
+    assert seen["safety"] == "admin" and seen["restarts"] == 1       # its audit row names who restored
     assert (tmp_path / "secret.key").read_text() == "k-backup"
     [(action, detail)] = seen["audits"]
     assert action == "backup.restored"