diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js b/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
index ef3cf4423..843eb0845 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
         }
 
         function deleteNotification(evt) {
-
+            decrementNotificationCount();
         }
 
         function initializeChatPanel() {
@@ -238,6 +238,16 @@
             $('#sidebar-search-results').height('0px');
         }
 
+        function incrementNotificationCount() {
+            var count = parseInt($('#sidebar-notification-count').html());
+            $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(count + 1);
+        }
+
+        function decrementNotificationCount() {
+            var count = parseInt($('#sidebar-notification-count').html());
+            $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(count - 1);
+        }
+
         // TODO
         // (1) optimize so we're not hitting server on each keyup once > 2 characters are entered
         // (2) hide any expanded panels once search starts
@@ -302,8 +312,7 @@
                 logger.debug("Added notification " + notifications[payload.notification_id].id + " to array");
                 logger.debug("Notification size = " + notifications.length);
 
-                // set notification count
-                $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(notifications.length);
+                incrementNotificationCount();
 
                 var template = $("#template-notification-panel").html();
                 var notificationHtml = context.JK.fillTemplate(template, {