diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/annotable.js.coffee b/app/assets/javascripts/annotable.js.coffee
index cde86b5a7..82c9418bf 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/annotable.js.coffee
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/annotable.js.coffee
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ App.Annotable =
             ann[ann_type + "_id"] = ann_id
 
       app.start().then ->
+        app.ident.identity = $('html').data('current-user-id')
+
         options = {}
         options[ann_type + "_id"] = ann_id
         app.annotations.load(options)