diff --git a/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/identities.js b/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/identities.js
index ad0c3a15ca..165674f491 100644
--- a/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/identities.js
+++ b/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/identities.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+const logging = require('@tryghost/logging');
 const settings = require('../../../shared/settings-cache');
 const urlUtils = require('../../../shared/url-utils');
 const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ const getKeyID = async () => {
     return key.kid;
 };
 
-const sign = async (claims, options) => {
+const sign = async (claims, options = {}) => {
     const kid = await getKeyID();
     return jwt.sign(claims, dangerousPrivateKey, Object.assign({
         issuer,
@@ -32,7 +33,20 @@ const controller = {
         },
         permissions: true,
         async query(frame) {
-            const token = await sign({sub: frame.user.get('email')});
+            let role = null;
+            try {
+                await frame.user.load(['roles']);
+                role = frame.user.relations.roles.toJSON()[0].name;
+            } catch (err) {
+                logging.warn('Could not load role for identity');
+            }
+            const claims = {
+                sub: frame.user.get('email')
+            };
+            if (typeof role === 'string') {
+                claims.role = role;
+            }
+            const token = await sign(claims);
             return {token};
         }
     }
diff --git a/ghost/core/test/regression/api/admin/identities.test.js b/ghost/core/test/regression/api/admin/identities.test.js
index c338fb1ea6..6fc5429203 100644
--- a/ghost/core/test/regression/api/admin/identities.test.js
+++ b/ghost/core/test/regression/api/admin/identities.test.js
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ describe('Identities API', function () {
                 })
                 .then((decoded) => {
                     decoded.sub.should.equal('jbloggs@example.com');
+                    decoded.role.should.equal('Owner');
                 });
         });
     });