diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-zulip/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-zulip/defaults/main.yml
index 5bf31e127..fd6cd204b 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-zulip/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-zulip/defaults/main.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ matrix_zulip_bridge_docker_image_registry_prefix_upstream_default: ghcr.io/
 matrix_zulip_bridge_docker_image_force_pull: "{{ matrix_zulip_bridge_docker_image.endswith(':latest') }}"
 
 # Set this to your Matrix ID if you want to enforce the owner, otherwise first _local_ user becomes one
-matrix_zulip_bridge_owner: ""
+matrix_zulip_bridge_owner: "{{ matrix_admin if matrix_admin else '' }}"
 
 matrix_zulip_bridge_base_path: "{{ matrix_base_data_path }}/zulip"