diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
index d853cd505..a5792cf43 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
                               rate_ip=True,
                               prefix='create_promo_'),
                    VShamedDomain('url'),
+                   username=VLength('username', 100, empty_error=None),
                    l=VLink('link_id'),
                    title=VTitle('title'),
                    url=VUrl('url', allow_self=False, lookup=False),
@@ -406,10 +407,9 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
                    media_override=VBoolean("media-override"),
                    domain_override=VLength("domain", 100)
                    )
-    def POST_edit_promo(self, form, jquery, ip, l, title, url, selftext, kind,
-                        disable_comments,
-                        media_height, media_width, media_embed,
-                        media_override, domain_override):
+    def POST_edit_promo(self, form, jquery, ip, username, l, title, url,
+                        selftext, kind, disable_comments, media_height,
+                        media_width, media_embed, media_override, domain_override):
 
         should_ratelimit = False
         if not c.user_is_sponsor:
@@ -418,6 +418,27 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
         if not should_ratelimit:
             c.errors.remove((errors.RATELIMIT, 'ratelimit'))
 
+        # check for user override
+        if not l and c.user_is_sponsor and username:
+            try:
+                user = Account._by_name(username)
+            except NotFound:
+                c.errors.add(errors.USER_DOESNT_EXIST, field="username")
+                form.set_error(errors.USER_DOESNT_EXIST, "username")
+                return
+
+            if not user.email:
+                c.errors.add(errors.NO_EMAIL_FOR_USER, field="username")
+                form.set_error(errors.NO_EMAIL_FOR_USER, "username")
+                return
+
+            if not user.email_verified:
+                c.errors.add(errors.NO_VERIFIED_EMAIL, field="username")
+                form.set_error(errors.NO_VERIFIED_EMAIL, "username")
+                return
+        else:
+            user = c.user
+
         # check for shame banned domains
         if form.has_errors("url", errors.DOMAIN_BANNED):
             g.stats.simple_event('spam.shame.link')
@@ -446,7 +467,7 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
         if not l:
             l = promote.new_promotion(title, url if kind == 'link' else 'self',
                                       selftext if kind == 'self' else '',
-                                      c.user, ip)
+                                      user, ip)
 
         elif promote.is_promo(l):
             # changing link type is not allowed
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/errors.py b/r2/r2/lib/errors.py
index 4caa3b939..544ace3a3 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/errors.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/errors.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ error_list = dict((
         ('NO_NAME', _('please enter a name')),
         ('NO_EMAIL', _('please enter an email address')),
         ('NO_EMAIL_FOR_USER', _('no email address for that user')),
+        ('NO_VERIFIED_EMAIL', _('no verified email address for that user')),
         ('NO_TO_ADDRESS', _('send it to whom?')),
         ('NO_SUBJECT', _('please enter a subject')),
         ('USER_DOESNT_EXIST', _("that user doesn't exist")),
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinknew.html b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinknew.html
index 212ccd2e1..03555bbcd 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinknew.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinknew.html
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
 
     <div class="pretty-form" id="promo-form">
 
+      %if c.user_is_sponsor:
+       ${username_field()}
+      %endif
       ${title_field(None, editable=True)}
       ${kind_selector()}
       ${url_field(None, editable=True, enable_override=c.user_is_sponsor)}
@@ -55,3 +58,16 @@
     </div>
   </div>
 </div>
+
+<%def name="username_field()">
+  <%utils:line_field title="${_('create as user')}" id="username-field" css_class="rounded">
+    <input id="username" name="username" type="text" 
+           class="rounded">
+    ${error_field("NO_EMAIL_FOR_USER", "username", "div")}
+    ${error_field("NO_VERIFIED_EMAIL", "username", "div")}
+    ${error_field("USER_DOESNT_EXIST", "username", "div")}
+    <div class="infotext rounded">
+      <p>${_("Create a promotion on another user's account.")}</p>
+    </div>
+  </%utils:line_field>
+</%def>