diff --git a/platform/commonUI/dialog/res/templates/overlay-message-list.html b/platform/commonUI/dialog/res/templates/overlay-message-list.html
index 026ef1cbb1..5a7a48192f 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/dialog/res/templates/overlay-message-list.html
+++ b/platform/commonUI/dialog/res/templates/overlay-message-list.html
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
             </div>
         </div>
         <div class="abs message-body">
-            <mct-include ng-repeat="msg in ngModel.dialog.messages | orderBy: '-'" key="'message'" ng-model="msg"></mct-include>
+            <mct-include
+                    ng-repeat="msg in ngModel.dialog.messages | orderBy: '-'"
+                    key="'message'" ng-model="msg.model"></mct-include>
         </div>
         <div class="abs bottom-bar">
             <a ng-repeat="dialogAction in ngModel.dialog.actions"
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/general/src/controllers/BannerController.js b/platform/commonUI/general/src/controllers/BannerController.js
index 4be9304cc6..cea7af4fbd 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/general/src/controllers/BannerController.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/general/src/controllers/BannerController.js
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ define(
                     notification.model.cancel = function(){
                         dialogService.dismiss();
                     };
+                    //If the notification is dismissed by the user, close
+                    // the dialog.
+                    notification.onDismiss(function(){
+                        dialogService.dismiss();
+                    });
+
                     dialogService.showBlockingMessage(notification.model);
                 }
             };
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/notification/bundle.js b/platform/commonUI/notification/bundle.js
index 4bde1dff03..d1cdbbdd33 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/notification/bundle.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/notification/bundle.js
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ define([
                     "implementation": NotificationService,
                     "depends": [
                         "$timeout",
+                        "topic",
                         "DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS",
                         "MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT"
                     ]
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationIndicatorController.js b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationIndicatorController.js
index e58b0a606b..3c489505af 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationIndicatorController.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationIndicatorController.js
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@ define(
                         title: "Messages",
                         //Launch the message list dialog with the models
                         // from the notifications
-                        messages: notificationService.notifications && notificationService.notifications.map(function(notification){
-                            return notification.model;
-                        })
+                        messages: notificationService.notifications
                     },
                     cancel: function(){
                         dialogService.dismiss();
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
index 568d31beb5..bbf79cf7fc 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
@@ -58,21 +58,23 @@ define(
          * @property {string} title The title of the message
          * @property {string} severity The importance of the message (one of
          * 'info', 'alert', or 'error' where info < alert <error)
-         * @property {number} progress The completion status of a task
+         * @property {number} [progress] The completion status of a task
          * represented numerically
-         * @property {boolean} unknownProgress a boolean indicating that the
+         * @property {boolean} [unknownProgress] a boolean indicating that the
          * progress of the underlying task is unknown. This will result in a
          * visually distinct progress bar.
-         * @property {boolean | number} autoDismiss If truthy, dialog will
+         * @property {boolean | number} [autoDismiss] If truthy, dialog will
          * be automatically minimized or dismissed (depending on severity).
          * Additionally, if the provided value is a number, it will be used
          * as the delay period before being dismissed.
-         * @property {NotificationOption} primaryOption the default user
+         * @property {boolean} [dismissable=true] If true, notification will
+         * include an option to dismiss it completely.
+         * @property {NotificationOption} [primaryOption] the default user
          * response to
          * this message. Will be represented as a button with the provided
          * label and action. May be used by banner notifications to display
          * only the most important option to users.
-         * @property {NotificationOption[]} options any additional
+         * @property {NotificationOption[]} [options] any additional
          * actions the user can take. Will be represented as additional buttons
          * that may or may not be available from a banner.
          * @see DialogModel
@@ -99,6 +101,8 @@ define(
          * be used for dismissing a notification. If more control is
          * required, then the minimize or dismiss functions can be called
          * individually.
+         * @property {function} onDismiss Allows listening for on dismiss
+         * events. This allows cleanup etc. when the notification is dismissed.
          */
 
         /**
@@ -113,12 +117,13 @@ define(
          * animation is shown. This animation requires some time to execute,
          * so a timeout is required before the notification is hidden
          */
-        function NotificationService($timeout, DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS, MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT) {
+        function NotificationService($timeout, topic, DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS, MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT) {
             this.notifications = [];
             this.$timeout = $timeout;
             this.highest ={ severity: "info" };
             this.DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS = DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS;
             this.MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT = MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT;
+            this.topic = topic;
 
             /*
              * A context in which to hold the active notification and a
@@ -127,14 +132,16 @@ define(
             this.active = {};
         }
 
-        /*
+        /**
          * Minimize a notification. The notification will still be available
          * from the notification list. Typically notifications with a
          * severity of 'info' should not be minimized, but rather
          * dismissed. If you're not sure which is appropriate,
          * use {@link Notification#dismissOrMinimize}
+         *
+         * @private
          */
-        function minimize (service, notification) {
+        NotificationService.prototype.minimize = function (service, notification) {
             //Check this is a known notification
             var index = service.notifications.indexOf(notification);
 
@@ -159,17 +166,19 @@ define(
                     service.setActiveNotification(service.selectNextNotification());
                 }, service.MINIMIZE_TIMEOUT);
             }
-        }
+        };
 
-        /*
+        /**
          * Completely removes a notification. This will dismiss it from the
          * message banner and remove it from the list of notifications.
          * Typically only notifications with a severity of info should be
          * dismissed. If you're not sure whether to dismiss or minimize a
          * notification, use {@link Notification#dismissOrMinimize}.
          * dismiss
+         *
+         * @private
          */
-        function dismiss (service, notification) {
+        NotificationService.prototype.dismiss = function (service, notification) {
             //Check this is a known notification
             var index = service.notifications.indexOf(notification);
 
@@ -190,19 +199,23 @@ define(
                 service.notifications.splice(index, 1);
             }
             service.setActiveNotification(service.selectNextNotification());
-        }
 
-        /*
+            this.setHighestSeverity();
+        };
+
+        /**
          * Depending on the severity of the notification will selectively
          * dismiss or minimize where appropriate.
+         *
+         * @private
          */
-        function dismissOrMinimize (notification){
+        NotificationService.prototype.dismissOrMinimize = function (notification) {
 
             //For now minimize everything, and have discussion around which
             //kind of messages should or should not be in the minimized
             //notifications list
             notification.minimize();
-        }
+        };
 
         /**
          * Returns the notification that is currently visible in the banner area
@@ -261,6 +274,24 @@ define(
             return this.notify(notificationModel);
         };
 
+        /**
+         * @private
+         */
+        NotificationService.prototype.setHighestSeverity = function () {
+            var severity = {
+                    "info": 1,
+                    "alert": 2,
+                    "error": 3
+                };
+            this.highest.severity = this.notifications.reduce(function(previous, notification){
+                if (severity[notification.model.severity] > severity[previous]){
+                    return notification.model.severity;
+                } else {
+                    return previous;
+                }
+            }, "info");
+        };
+
         /**
          * Notifies the user of an event. If there is a banner notification
          * already active, then it will be dismissed or minimized automatically,
@@ -274,23 +305,23 @@ define(
         NotificationService.prototype.notify = function (notificationModel) {
             var self = this,
                 notification,
-                ordinality = {
-                    "info": 1,
-                    "alert": 2,
-                    "error": 3
-                },
-                activeNotification = self.active.notification;
+                activeNotification = self.active.notification,
+                topic = this.topic();
 
             notification = {
                 model: notificationModel,
                 minimize: function() {
-                    minimize(self, notification);
+                    self.minimize(self, notification);
                 },
                 dismiss: function(){
-                    dismiss(self, notification);
+                    self.dismiss(self, notification);
+                    topic.notify();
                 },
                 dismissOrMinimize: function(){
-                    dismissOrMinimize(notification);
+                    self.dismissOrMinimize(notification);
+                },
+                onDismiss: function(callback) {
+                    topic.listen(callback);
                 }
             };
 
@@ -299,12 +330,25 @@ define(
                 notificationModel.autoDismiss = this.DEFAULT_AUTO_DISMISS;
             }
 
-            if (ordinality[notificationModel.severity.toLowerCase()] > ordinality[this.highest.severity.toLowerCase()]){
-                this.highest.severity = notificationModel.severity;
+            //Notifications support a 'dismissable' attribute. This is a
+            // convenience to support adding a 'dismiss' option to the
+            // notification for the common case of dismissing a
+            // notification. Could also be done manually by specifying an
+            // option on the model
+            if (notificationModel.dismissable !== false) {
+                notificationModel.options = notificationModel.options || [];
+                notificationModel.options.unshift({
+                    label: "Dismiss",
+                    callback: function() {
+                        notification.dismiss();
+                    }
+                });
             }
 
             this.notifications.push(notification);
 
+            this.setHighestSeverity();
+
             /*
             Check if there is already an active (ie. visible) notification
              */
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/notification/test/NotificationServiceSpec.js b/platform/commonUI/notification/test/NotificationServiceSpec.js
index ded62a7f48..25d9077f45 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/notification/test/NotificationServiceSpec.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/notification/test/NotificationServiceSpec.js
@@ -32,13 +32,19 @@ define(
                 mockAutoDismiss,
                 mockMinimizeTimeout,
                 successModel,
+                mockTopicFunction,
+                mockTopicObject,
                 errorModel;
 
             beforeEach(function(){
                 mockTimeout = jasmine.createSpy("$timeout");
+                mockTopicFunction = jasmine.createSpy("topic");
+                mockTopicObject = jasmine.createSpyObj("topicObject", ["listen", "notify"]);
+                mockTopicFunction.andReturn(mockTopicObject);
+
                 mockAutoDismiss = mockMinimizeTimeout = 1000;
                 notificationService = new NotificationService(
-                    mockTimeout, mockAutoDismiss, mockMinimizeTimeout);
+                    mockTimeout, mockTopicFunction, mockAutoDismiss, mockMinimizeTimeout);
                 successModel = {
                     title: "Mock Success Notification",
                     severity: "info"
@@ -57,6 +63,19 @@ define(
                 expect(activeNotification.model).toBe(successModel);
             });
 
+            it("notifies listeners on dismissal of notification", function() {
+                var notification,
+                    dismissListener = jasmine.createSpy("ondismiss");
+                notification = notificationService.notify(successModel);
+                notification.onDismiss(dismissListener);
+                expect(mockTopicObject.listen).toHaveBeenCalled();
+                notification.dismiss();
+                expect(mockTopicObject.notify).toHaveBeenCalled();
+                mockTopicObject.listen.mostRecentCall.args[0]();
+                expect(dismissListener).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+            });
+
             it("allows specification of an info notification given just a" +
                 " title, making the notification active", function() {
                 var activeNotification,
diff --git a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
index 637be193c2..9c7d769d22 100644
--- a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
+++ b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ define(
 
             notificationService.error({
                 title: "Error persisting " + domainObject.getModel().name,
-                hint: errorMessage || "Unknown error"
+                hint: errorMessage,
+                dismissable: true
             });
 
             return $q.reject(error);