diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3b57bea9a..4bb84ad30 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -117,8 +117,7 @@ COMMON_MODULES="gtk+-3.0 >= $GTK_REQUIRED_VERSION
  gthread-2.0
  gio-2.0
  gio-unix-2.0
- gsettings-desktop-schemas >= $SCHEMAS_REQUIRED_VERSION
- libnotify >= $LIBNOTIFY_REQUIRED_VERSION"
+ gsettings-desktop-schemas >= $SCHEMAS_REQUIRED_VERSION"
 
 LIBGD_INIT([_view-common notification main-toolbar header-bar stack static])
 
diff --git a/shell/cc-application.c b/shell/cc-application.c
index 86f1c2d5c..72a61436b 100644
--- a/shell/cc-application.c
+++ b/shell/cc-application.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <glib/gi18n.h>
 #include <gio/gio.h>
-#include <libnotify/notify.h>
 
 #include "cc-application.h"
 #include "cc-panel-loader.h"
@@ -289,8 +288,6 @@ cc_application_startup (GApplication *application)
   /* register a symbolic icon size for use in sidebar lists */
   gtk_icon_size_register ("cc-sidebar-list", 24, 24);
 
-  notify_init ("gnome-control-center");
-
   action = g_simple_action_new ("help", NULL);
   g_action_map_add_action (G_ACTION_MAP (application), G_ACTION (action));
   g_signal_connect (action, "activate", G_CALLBACK (help_activated), self);