diff --git a/onadata/libs/serializers/data_serializer.py b/onadata/libs/serializers/data_serializer.py
index 59e247639c..af3e3d93de 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/serializers/data_serializer.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/serializers/data_serializer.py
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ def create_submission(request, username, data_dict, xform_id):
     """
     Returns validated data object instances
     """
-    xml_string = dict2xform(data_dict, xform_id, root='data')
+    xml_string = dict2xform(
+        data_dict, xform_id, username=username)
     xml_file = BytesIO(xml_string.encode('utf-8'))
 
     error, instance = safe_create_instance(username, xml_file, [], None,
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/logger_tools.py b/onadata/libs/utils/logger_tools.py
index 76b10c3158..d0960558c4 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/logger_tools.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/logger_tools.py
@@ -112,10 +112,41 @@ def _get_instance(xml, new_uuid, submitted_by, status, xform, checksum):
     return instance
 
 
-def dict2xform(jsform, form_id, root=None):
+def dict2xform(jsform, form_id, root=None, username=None):
+    """
+    Converts a dictionary containing submission data into an XML
+    Submission for the appropriate form.
+
+    :param: jsform (dict): A python dictionary object containing the submission
+                         data
+    :param: form_id (str or XForm): An XForm object or a string value
+                                    representing the forms id_string
+    :optional:param: root (str): An optional string that should be used as the
+                                 root nodes name.
+    :optional:param: username (str): An optional string representing a users
+                                     username. Used alongside the `form_id` to
+                                     locate the XForm object the user is
+                                     trying to submit data too.
+    :returns: Returns a string containing the Submission XML
+    :rtype: str
+    """
     if not root:
-        root = form_id
-    return u"<?xml version='1.0' ?><{0} id='{1}'>{2}</{0}>".format(
+        if username:
+            if isinstance(form_id, XForm):
+                root = form_id.survey.name
+            else:
+                try:
+                    form = XForm.objects.filter(
+                        id_string__iexact=form_id,
+                        user__username__iexact=username,
+                        deleted_at__isnull=True).first()
+                    root = form.survey.name
+                except XForm.DoesNotExist:
+                    root = 'data'
+        else:
+            root = 'data'
+
+    return "<?xml version='1.0' ?><{0} id='{1}'>{2}</{0}>".format(
         root, form_id, dict2xml(jsform))