diff --git a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
index 5a9653fe8a..bbf79cf7fc 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/notification/src/NotificationService.js
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ define(
          * 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 {boolean} [dismissable=true] If truthy, notification will
+         * @property {boolean} [dismissable=true] If true, notification will
          * include an option to dismiss it completely.
          * @property {NotificationOption} [primaryOption] the default user
          * response to
diff --git a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
index dd2378feb9..9c7d769d22 100644
--- a/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
+++ b/platform/core/src/capabilities/PersistenceCapability.js
@@ -104,15 +104,14 @@ define(
          * persistence.
          */
         function notifyOnError(error, domainObject, notificationService, $q){
-            var errorMessage = "Unable to persist " + domainObject.getModel().name,
-                notification;
+            var errorMessage = "Unable to persist " + domainObject.getModel().name;
             if (error) {
                 errorMessage += ": " + formatError(error);
             }
 
-            notification = notificationService.error({
+            notificationService.error({
                 title: "Error persisting " + domainObject.getModel().name,
-                hint: errorMessage || "Unknown error",
+                hint: errorMessage,
                 dismissable: true
             });