diff --git a/rhodecode/controllers/forks.py b/rhodecode/controllers/forks.py
--- a/rhodecode/controllers/forks.py
+++ b/rhodecode/controllers/forks.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class ForksController(BaseRepoController
             h.not_mapped_error(repo_name)
             return redirect(url('repos'))
 
-        c.default_user_id = User.get_by_username('default').user_id
+        c.default_user_id = User.get_default_user().user_id
         c.in_public_journal = UserFollowing.query()\
             .filter(UserFollowing.user_id == c.default_user_id)\
             .filter(UserFollowing.follows_repository == c.repo_info).scalar()