diff --git a/nf_core/components/components_create.py b/nf_core/components/components_create.py
index a8d56411ba..86c42c0373 100644
--- a/nf_core/components/components_create.py
+++ b/nf_core/components/components_create.py
@@ -173,3 +173,5 @@ def get_username(author):
             f"[violet]GitHub Username:[/]{' (@author)' if author_default is None else ''}",
             default=author_default,
         )
+
+    return author
diff --git a/nf_core/modules/create.py b/nf_core/modules/create.py
index b4899750d7..019a77c71f 100644
--- a/nf_core/modules/create.py
+++ b/nf_core/modules/create.py
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def create(self):
         self._get_bioconda_tool()
 
         # Prompt for GitHub username
-        nf_core.components.components_create.get_username(self.author)
+        self.author = nf_core.components.components_create.get_username(self.author)
 
         self._get_module_structure_components()
 
diff --git a/nf_core/subworkflows/create.py b/nf_core/subworkflows/create.py
index d5f9a5efbb..e61f0c6c8d 100644
--- a/nf_core/subworkflows/create.py
+++ b/nf_core/subworkflows/create.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def create(self):
         )
 
         # Prompt for GitHub username
-        nf_core.components.components_create.get_username(self.author)
+        self.author = nf_core.components.components_create.get_username(self.author)
 
         # Create subworkflow template with jinja2
         nf_core.components.components_create.render_template(self.component_type, vars(self), self.file_paths)