diff --git a/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/notification.js b/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/notification.js
index 3e4d33ba..87a0e38b 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/notification.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/notification.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 modulejs.define('view/notification', ['$', 'view/root'], function ($, root) {
 
-    var $el = $('<div id="notification"/>');
+    var $el = $('<div id="notification"/>').hide().appendTo(root.$el);
 
     function set(content) {
 
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ modulejs.define('view/notification', ['$', 'view/root'], function ($, root) {
         }
     }
 
-    $el.hide().appendTo(root.$el);
-
     return {
         $el: $el,
         set: set