diff --git a/k8s/apps/paperless/paperless-ai.yaml b/k8s/apps/paperless/paperless-ai.yaml
index 7038286..add4d26 100644
--- a/k8s/apps/paperless/paperless-ai.yaml
+++ b/k8s/apps/paperless/paperless-ai.yaml
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ spec:
                 secretKeyRef:
                   name: paperless-ai-config
                   key: PAPERLESS_API_TOKEN
+            - name: PAPERLESS_USERNAME
+              value: "admin"
             # LLM API — local gateway, no auth required (phase 3 not built yet)
             - name: AI_PROVIDER
               value: "custom"