diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 0b56317ff31..1d3c444a5e5 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ DEBUG_CONSOLE=false
 # ENDPOINTS=openAI,assistants,azureOpenAI,bingAI,google,gptPlugins,anthropic
 
 PROXY=
+SEND_USERNAME_TO_MODEL= # Set to true to send username to model API calls instead of user id
 
 #===================================#
 # Known Endpoints - librechat.yaml  #
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/AskController.js b/api/server/controllers/AskController.js
index d2d774b0092..0795ffebb6d 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/AskController.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/AskController.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const { sendMessage, createOnProgress } = require('~/server/utils');
 const { getLogStores } = require('~/cache');
 const { saveMessage } = require('~/models');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
+const { isEnabled } = require('~/server/utils');
 
 const AskController = async (req, res, next, initializeClient, addTitle) => {
   let {
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ const AskController = async (req, res, next, initializeClient, addTitle) => {
     });
 
     const messageOptions = {
-      user,
+      user: isEnabled(process.env.SEND_USERNAME_TO_MODEL) ? req.user.username : user,
       parentMessageId,
       conversationId,
       overrideParentMessageId,