diff --git a/archivebox/config.py b/archivebox/config.py
index 3083a405..a0d7edd5 100644
--- a/archivebox/config.py
+++ b/archivebox/config.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import os
 import io
 import re
 import sys
+import pwd
 import json
 import getpass
 import platform
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ ALLOWED_IN_OUTPUT_DIR = {
 
 DYNAMIC_CONFIG_SCHEMA: ConfigDefaultDict = {
     'TERM_WIDTH':               {'default': lambda c: lambda: shutil.get_terminal_size((100, 10)).columns},
-    'USER':                     {'default': lambda c: getpass.getuser() or os.getlogin()},
+    'USER':                     {'default': lambda c: pwd.getpwuid(os.geteuid()).pw_name or getpass.getuser() or os.getlogin()},
     'ANSI':                     {'default': lambda c: DEFAULT_CLI_COLORS if c['USE_COLOR'] else {k: '' for k in DEFAULT_CLI_COLORS.keys()}},
 
     'PACKAGE_DIR':              {'default': lambda c: Path(__file__).resolve().parent},