Ember.js setting application property on load - ember.js

Question

I'm trying to fetch the current logged in user via my REST API and then set it as a property of the ApplicationController. This is how I'm trying to do it:
App.ApplicationController = Ember.Controller.extend({
init: function() {
this._super();
var self = this;
App.User.findCurrent().then(function(user) {
self.set('currentUser', user);
});
}
});
App.User = Ember.Object.extend({});
App.User.reopenClass({
findCurrent: function() {
return $.getJSON('/api/v1/users/current').then(
function(response) {
return response.user;
}
);
}
});
When I check the Chrome network tab, I see there's a call to the API and the JSON is returned, but when I try to access e.g. {{currentUser.name}} in my application template (or a partial of it), it doesn't return the name. No errors are given as well.
But in the application template it doesn't return it.
What am I missing?
Thanks!
Edit
When I create another controller, e.g. HelpController and visit /help, then {{currentUser.name}} does return the username:
App.HelpController = Ember.Controller.extend({
needs: ['application'],
currentUser: Ember.computed.alias('controllers.application.currentUser')
});
Edit 2
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I'm actually trying to use {{currentUser.name}} from a partial ({{partial 'sidebar'}}), but that shouldn't change anything, because that's the same scope, right?
Edit 3
I noticed something very strange. When I call {{currentUser.name}} in my application template (which is not what I want btw), then it also works in the {{partial 'sidebar'}}.
Edit 4
As per request:
DEBUG: Ember.VERSION : 1.0.0-rc.6 ember.js?body=1:361
DEBUG: Handlebars.VERSION : 1.0.0-rc.4 ember.js?body=1:361
DEBUG: jQuery.VERSION : 1.10.0

Answer 1

This isn't the correct place to put this logic. You can use the route hooks model and afterModel on the ApplicationRoute, to do this easily. In general in ember loading of data is done in the routes hooks. This allows the router pause while loading so by the time your controller and templates come into play, they are working with loaded data.
App.ApplicationRoute = function() {
model: function() {
return App.User.findCurrent();
},
afterModel: function(model) {
App.set('currentUser', model)
}
}