diff --git a/IPython/html/static/notebook/less/notificationarea.less b/IPython/html/static/notebook/less/notificationarea.less
index 0301a24..bfbf5b7 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/notebook/less/notificationarea.less
+++ b/IPython/html/static/notebook/less/notificationarea.less
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
     margin-bottom: 0px;
     margin-left: 0px;
     margin-right: 0px;
+
+    // Start out hidden.
+    display: none;
 }
 
 .modal_indicator:before {