diff --git a/core/modules/entity_reference/src/Tests/EntityReferenceAdminTest.php b/core/modules/entity_reference/src/Tests/EntityReferenceAdminTest.php
index ef9a931..095cdf9 100644
--- a/core/modules/entity_reference/src/Tests/EntityReferenceAdminTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/entity_reference/src/Tests/EntityReferenceAdminTest.php
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ public function testAvailableFormatters() {
     // Create entity reference field with taxonomy term as a target.
     $taxonomy_term_field_name = $this->createEntityReferenceField('taxonomy_term', 'tags');
 
+    // Create entity reference field with user as a target.
+    $user_field_name = $this->createEntityReferenceField('user');
+
     // Create entity reference field with node as a target.
     $node_field_name = $this->createEntityReferenceField('node', $this->type);
 
@@ -125,7 +128,6 @@ public function testAvailableFormatters() {
     // Check for Taxonomy Term select box values.
     // Test if Taxonomy Term Entity Reference Field has the correct formatters.
     $this->assertFieldSelectOptions('fields[field_' . $taxonomy_term_field_name . '][type]', array(
-      'author',
       'entity_reference_label',
       'entity_reference_entity_id',
       'entity_reference_rss_category',
@@ -133,10 +135,20 @@ public function testAvailableFormatters() {
       'hidden',
     ));
 
+    // Test if User Reference Field has the correct formatters.
+    // Author should be available for this field.
+    // RSS Category should not be available for this field.
+    $this->assertFieldSelectOptions('fields[field_' . $user_field_name . '][type]', array(
+      'author',
+      'entity_reference_entity_id',
+      'entity_reference_entity_view',
+      'entity_reference_label',
+      'hidden',
+    ));
+
     // Test if Node Entity Reference Field has the correct formatters.
     // RSS Category should not be available for this field.
     $this->assertFieldSelectOptions('fields[field_' . $node_field_name . '][type]', array(
-      'author',
       'entity_reference_label',
       'entity_reference_entity_id',
       'entity_reference_entity_view',
@@ -147,7 +159,6 @@ public function testAvailableFormatters() {
     // RSS Category & Entity View should not be available for this field.
     // This could be any field without a ViewBuilder.
     $this->assertFieldSelectOptions('fields[field_' . $date_format_field_name . '][type]', array(
-      'author',
       'entity_reference_label',
       'entity_reference_entity_id',
       'hidden',
diff --git a/core/modules/user/src/Plugin/Field/FieldFormatter/AuthorFormatter.php b/core/modules/user/src/Plugin/Field/FieldFormatter/AuthorFormatter.php
index 38c7f55..43054a6 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/src/Plugin/Field/FieldFormatter/AuthorFormatter.php
+++ b/core/modules/user/src/Plugin/Field/FieldFormatter/AuthorFormatter.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 namespace Drupal\user\Plugin\Field\FieldFormatter;
 
+use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldDefinitionInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Field\FieldItemListInterface;
 use Drupal\Core\Field\FormatterBase;
 
@@ -47,4 +48,7 @@ public function viewElements(FieldItemListInterface $items) {
     return $elements;
   }
 
+  public static function isApplicable(FieldDefinitionInterface $field_definition) {
+    return $field_definition->getFieldStorageDefinition()->getSetting('target_type') == 'user';
+  }
 }