diff --git a/src/engines/git.rs b/src/engines/git.rs
index ca0443a..0fdd47c 100644
--- a/src/engines/git.rs
+++ b/src/engines/git.rs
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ impl GitEngine {
             "Make sure that your internet connectivity is working correctly, and that your local git configuration is able to clone this repo.",
             e))?;
 
+        trace!("Configure fallback committer information");
+        self.ensure_committer(&repository)?;
+
         trace!("Configuring core.bare for Git repository");
         self.update_config(&repository, |c| {
             c.set_raw_value(&gix::config::tree::Core::BARE, "true").map_err(|e| errors::system_with_internal(
@@ -132,6 +135,8 @@ impl GitEngine {
             )
         })?;
 
+        self.ensure_committer(&repository)?;
+
         let original_head = repository.head_id().ok();
 
         let default_refspecs = vec!["+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*".to_string()];
@@ -260,6 +265,27 @@ impl GitEngine {
         }
     }
 
+    fn ensure_committer(&self, repo: &gix::Repository) -> Result<(), errors::Error> {
+        if repo.committer().is_none() {
+            self.update_config(repo, |cfg| {
+                cfg.set_raw_value(
+                    &gix::config::tree::gitoxide::Committer::NAME_FALLBACK,
+                    "github-backup",
+                )
+                .expect("works - statically known");
+                cfg.set_raw_value(
+                    &gix::config::tree::gitoxide::Committer::EMAIL_FALLBACK,
+                    "github-backup@sierrasoftworks.github.io",
+                )
+                .expect("works - statically known");
+
+                Ok(())
+            })
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
+
     fn update_config<U>(&self, repo: &gix::Repository, mut update: U) -> Result<(), errors::Error>
     where
         U: FnMut(&mut gix::config::File<'_>) -> Result<(), errors::Error>,