diff --git a/wally/discover/node.py b/wally/discover/node.py
index c2ae5aa..9f4356f 100644
--- a/wally/discover/node.py
+++ b/wally/discover/node.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import getpass
+
 from wally.ssh_utils import parse_ssh_uri
 
 
@@ -24,6 +26,14 @@
         creds = parse_ssh_uri(self.conn_url[6:])
         return "{0.host}:{0.port}".format(creds)
 
+    def get_user(self):
+        if self.conn_url == 'local':
+            return getpass.getuser()
+
+        assert self.conn_url.startswith("ssh://")
+        creds = parse_ssh_uri(self.conn_url[6:])
+        return creds.user
+
     def __str__(self):
         templ = "<Node: url={conn_url!r} roles={roles}" + \
                 " connected={is_connected}>"