diff --git a/deeplake/api/dataset.py b/deeplake/api/dataset.py
index 818cd0c128..7a97a95624 100644
--- a/deeplake/api/dataset.py
+++ b/deeplake/api/dataset.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import os
 
 import deeplake
-import jwt
 import pathlib
 import posixpath
 import warnings
diff --git a/deeplake/client/client.py b/deeplake/client/client.py
index 41f819490c..7c2d0271d8 100644
--- a/deeplake/client/client.py
+++ b/deeplake/client/client.py
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ def __init__(self, token: Optional[str] = None):
         )
 
         self.version = deeplake.__version__
-        self._token_from_env = False
         self.auth_header = None
         self.token = (
             token
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ def __init__(self, token: Optional[str] = None):
         if orgs == ["public"]:
             self.token = token or self.get_token()
             self.auth_header = f"Bearer {self.token}"
-        if self._token_from_env:
+        else:
             username = self.get_user_profile()["name"]
             if get_reporting_config().get("username") != username:
                 save_reporting_config(True, username=username)
diff --git a/deeplake/core/dataset/dataset.py b/deeplake/core/dataset/dataset.py
index 67bd78fa30..9ce8d91f3b 100644
--- a/deeplake/core/dataset/dataset.py
+++ b/deeplake/core/dataset/dataset.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 import pathlib
 import numpy as np
 from time import time, sleep
+
+from jwt import DecodeError
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 import deeplake
@@ -332,6 +334,16 @@ def maybe_flush(self):
                     self._flush_vc_info()
                 self.storage.flush()
 
+    @property
+    def username(self) -> str:
+        if not self.token:
+            return "public"
+
+        try:
+            return jwt.decode(self.token, options={"verify_signature": False})["id"]
+        except DecodeError:
+            return "public"
+
     @property
     def num_samples(self) -> int:
         """Returns the length of the smallest tensor.
diff --git a/deeplake/core/tests/test_dataset.py b/deeplake/core/tests/test_dataset.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7c6e57c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deeplake/core/tests/test_dataset.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import os
+
+from deeplake.client.config import DEEPLAKE_AUTH_TOKEN
+from deeplake.core import LRUCache
+from deeplake.core.storage.memory import MemoryProvider
+
+from deeplake.core.dataset import Dataset
+
+
+def test_token_and_username(hub_cloud_dev_token):
+    assert DEEPLAKE_AUTH_TOKEN not in os.environ
+
+    ds = Dataset(
+        storage=LRUCache(
+            cache_storage=MemoryProvider(), cache_size=0, next_storage=MemoryProvider()
+        )
+    )
+    assert ds.token is None
+    assert ds.username == "public"
+
+    # invalid tokens come through as "public"
+    ds = Dataset(
+        token="invalid_value",
+        storage=LRUCache(
+            cache_storage=MemoryProvider(), cache_size=0, next_storage=MemoryProvider()
+        ),
+    )
+    assert ds.token == "invalid_value"
+    assert ds.username == "public"
+
+    # valid tokens come through correctly
+    ds = Dataset(
+        token=hub_cloud_dev_token,
+        storage=LRUCache(
+            cache_storage=MemoryProvider(), cache_size=0, next_storage=MemoryProvider()
+        ),
+    )
+    assert ds.token == hub_cloud_dev_token
+    assert ds.username == "testingacc2"
+
+    # When env is set, it takes precedence over None for the token but not over a set token
+    try:
+        os.environ[DEEPLAKE_AUTH_TOKEN] = hub_cloud_dev_token
+        ds = Dataset(
+            storage=LRUCache(
+                cache_storage=MemoryProvider(),
+                cache_size=0,
+                next_storage=MemoryProvider(),
+            )
+        )
+        assert ds.token == hub_cloud_dev_token
+        assert ds.username == "testingacc2"
+
+        ds = Dataset(
+            token="invalid_value",
+            storage=LRUCache(
+                cache_storage=MemoryProvider(),
+                cache_size=0,
+                next_storage=MemoryProvider(),
+            ),
+        )
+        assert ds.token == "invalid_value"
+        assert ds.username == "public"
+
+    finally:
+        os.environ.pop(DEEPLAKE_AUTH_TOKEN)
+
+    assert DEEPLAKE_AUTH_TOKEN not in os.environ
diff --git a/deeplake/core/version_control/commit_node.py b/deeplake/core/version_control/commit_node.py
index d0116beb1e..a30600e637 100644
--- a/deeplake/core/version_control/commit_node.py
+++ b/deeplake/core/version_control/commit_node.py
@@ -33,12 +33,14 @@ def copy(self):
         node.total_samples_processed = self.total_samples_processed
         return node
 
-    def add_successor(self, node: "CommitNode", message: Optional[str] = None):
+    def add_successor(
+        self, node: "CommitNode", author: str, message: Optional[str] = None
+    ):
         """Adds a successor (a type of child) to the node, used for commits."""
         node.parent = self
         self.children.append(node)
         self.commit_message = message
-        self.commit_user_name = get_user_name()
+        self.commit_user_name = author
         self.commit_time = datetime.utcnow()
 
     def merge_from(self, node: "CommitNode"):
diff --git a/deeplake/util/tests/test_version_control.py b/deeplake/util/tests/test_version_control.py
index d971bb0dde..1b1e41e05f 100644
--- a/deeplake/util/tests/test_version_control.py
+++ b/deeplake/util/tests/test_version_control.py
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ def test_merge_commit_node_map():
     b = CommitNode("main", "b")
     c = CommitNode("main", "c")
     e = CommitNode("main", "e")
-    root.add_successor(a, "commit a")
-    root.add_successor(b, "commit b")
-    a.add_successor(c, "commit c")
-    c.add_successor(e, "commit e")
+    root.add_successor(a, "me", "commit a")
+    root.add_successor(b, "me", "commit b")
+    a.add_successor(c, "me", "commit c")
+    c.add_successor(e, "me", "commit e")
     map1 = {
         FIRST_COMMIT_ID: root,
         "a": a,
diff --git a/deeplake/util/version_control.py b/deeplake/util/version_control.py
index 3e0a08f3a0..ebe371d6ef 100644
--- a/deeplake/util/version_control.py
+++ b/deeplake/util/version_control.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def commit(
         hash = generate_hash()
     version_state["commit_id"] = hash
     new_node = CommitNode(version_state["branch"], hash)
-    stored_commit_node.add_successor(new_node, message)
+    stored_commit_node.add_successor(new_node, dataset.username, message)
     stored_commit_node.is_checkpoint = is_checkpoint
     stored_commit_node.total_samples_processed = total_samples_processed
     version_state["commit_node"] = new_node