diff --git a/app/models/epp/domain.rb b/app/models/epp/domain.rb
index 613c57115..1a577218a 100644
--- a/app/models/epp/domain.rb
+++ b/app/models/epp/domain.rb
@@ -498,6 +498,7 @@ class Epp::Domain < Domain
     old_registrant_email = DomainMailer.registrant_updated_notification_for_old_registrant(id, deliver_emails)
     preclean_pendings
     user  = ApiUser.find(pending_json['current_user_id'])
+    ::PaperTrail.whodunnit = user.string # updator str should be the request originator not the approval user
     frame = Nokogiri::XML(pending_json['frame'])
     statuses.delete(DomainStatus::PENDING_UPDATE)
     yield(self) if block_given? # need to skip statuses check here