diff --git a/platform/core/bundle.json b/platform/core/bundle.json
index b22e225e84..0a76948e39 100644
--- a/platform/core/bundle.json
+++ b/platform/core/bundle.json
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@
             {
                 "key": "persistence",
                 "implementation": "capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js",
-                "depends": [ "persistenceService", "identifierService" ]
+                "depends": [ "persistenceService", "identifierService",
+                    "notificationService", "$q" ]
             },
             {
                 "key": "metadata",
diff --git a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
index 8bd29c7b7c..52f2787f51 100644
--- a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
+++ b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ define(
         function PersistenceCapability(
             persistenceService,
             identifierService,
+            alertService,
+            $q,
             domainObject
         ) {
             // Cache modified timestamp
@@ -55,6 +57,8 @@ define(
             this.domainObject = domainObject;
             this.identifierService = identifierService;
             this.persistenceService = persistenceService;
+            this.alertService = alertService;
+            this.$q = $q;
         }
 
         // Utility function for creating promise-like objects which
@@ -72,6 +76,34 @@ define(
             return parts.length > 1 ? parts.slice(1).join(":") : id;
         }
 
+        /**
+         * Checks if the value returned is falsey, and if so returns a
+         * rejected promise
+         */
+        function rejectIfFalsey(value, $q){
+            if (!value){
+                return $q.reject("Error persisting object")
+            } else {
+                return value;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Display a notification message if an error has occurred during
+         * persistence.
+         */
+        function notifyOnError(error, domainObject, notificationService, $q){
+            var errorMessage = "Unable to persist " + domainObject.model.name + ": ";
+            errorMessage += typeof error === "string" ? error : error.message;
+
+            notificationService.error({
+                title: "Error persisting " + domainObject.model.name,
+                hint: errorMessage || "Unknown error"
+            });
+
+            return $q.reject(error);
+        }
+
         /**
          * Persist any changes which have been made to this
          * domain object's model.
@@ -80,7 +112,8 @@ define(
          *          if not.
          */
         PersistenceCapability.prototype.persist = function () {
-            var domainObject = this.domainObject,
+            var self = this,
+                domainObject = this.domainObject,
                 model = domainObject.getModel(),
                 modified = model.modified,
                 persistenceService = this.persistenceService,
@@ -98,7 +131,11 @@ define(
                 this.getSpace(),
                 getKey(domainObject.getId()),
                 domainObject.getModel()
-            ]);
+            ]).then(function(result){
+                return rejectIfFalsey(result, self.$q);
+            }).catch(function(error){
+                return notifyOnError(error, domainObject, self.alertService, self.$q);
+            });
         };
 
         /**