diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
index 22cf2d2a3c..3933e4f790 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@ exports.create = async function(ctx) {
 
   ctx.status = 200
   ctx.message = "User created successfully."
+  ctx.userId = response._id
   ctx.body = {
     _rev: response.rev,
-    _id: user._id,
     username,
     name,
   }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createUser.js b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createUser.js
index 8633c861ee..de2b6ca1ad 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createUser.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createUser.js
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ module.exports.run = async function({ inputs, instanceId }) {
     await userController.create(ctx)
     return {
       response: ctx.body,
-      id: ctx.body._id,
+      // internal property not returned through the API
+      id: ctx.userId,
       revision: ctx.body._rev,
       success: ctx.status === 200,
     }