diff --git a/backend/app/routes.py b/backend/app/routes.py
index 69f8a91..5efe674 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes.py
@@ -6427,7 +6427,9 @@ def factory_reset(
             detail="Factory reset requires X-Confirm-Reset header set to 'yes-delete-all-data'",
         )
 
-    logger.warning(f"Factory reset initiated by admin user: {current_user.username}")
+    # Capture username before we drop tables (user object will become invalid)
+    admin_username = current_user.username
+    logger.warning(f"Factory reset initiated by admin user: {admin_username}")
 
     results = {
         "database_tables_dropped": 0,
@@ -6487,7 +6489,7 @@ def factory_reset(
             fresh_db.close()
         results["seeded"] = True
 
-        logger.warning(f"Factory reset completed by {current_user.username}")
+        logger.warning(f"Factory reset completed by {admin_username}")
 
         return {
             "status": "success",