--- modules/node/node.module	2011-01-16 10:32:49.031042895 +0300
+++ modules/node/node.module	2011-01-16 10:36:14.773523299 +0300
@@ -850,7 +850,8 @@ function node_submit($node) {
 
   if (user_access('administer nodes')) {
     // Populate the "authored by" field.
-    if ($account = user_load(array('name' => $node->name))) {
+    $name = isset($node->name) ? $node->name : $user->name;
+    if ($account = user_load(array('name' => $name))) {
       $node->uid = $account->uid;
     }
     else {