diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
index bc6d729e9d..1d7e5d21c5 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
@@ -188,3 +188,19 @@ size_t sys_max_sector_size()
 		cached_sector_size = sysconf(_SC_PAGE_SIZE);
 	return cached_sector_size;
 }
+
+std::wstring sys_get_user_name()
+{
+	// Prefer LOGNAME, fall back on getlogin
+
+	const char* logname = getenv("LOGNAME");
+	if (logname && strcmp(logname, "") != 0)
+		return std::wstring(logname, logname + strlen(logname));
+	// TODO: maybe we should do locale conversion?
+
+	char buf[256];
+	if (getlogin_r(buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf)) == 0)
+		return std::wstring(buf, buf + strlen(buf));
+
+	return L"";
+}
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsysdep.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsysdep.cpp
index 0f79db3aa9..950889ba60 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsysdep.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsysdep.cpp
@@ -349,6 +349,14 @@ LibError sys_get_executable_name(fs::wpath& pathname)
 	return INFO::OK;
 }
 
+std::wstring sys_get_user_name()
+{
+	wchar_t usernameBuf[256];
+	DWORD size = ARRAY_SIZE(usernameBuf);
+	if(!GetUserNameW(usernameBuf, &size))
+		return L"";
+	return usernameBuf;
+}
 
 // callback for shell directory picker: used to set starting directory
 // (for user convenience).
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/sysdep.h b/source/lib/sysdep/sysdep.h
index db8ed5becc..79d3044cfc 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/sysdep.h
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/sysdep.h
@@ -106,6 +106,13 @@ LibError sys_get_module_filename(void* addr, fs::wpath& pathname);
  **/
 LIB_API LibError sys_get_executable_name(fs::wpath& pathname);
 
+/**
+ * get the current user's login name.
+ *
+ * @return login name, or empty string on error
+ */
+extern std::wstring sys_get_user_name();
+
 /**
  * have the user choose a directory via OS dialog.
  *