diff --git a/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue b/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
index ba4e2f63..5e5e4bed 100644
--- a/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
+++ b/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         :to-project-id="toProjectId"
         :giver="giver"
         :receiver="receiver"
-        :notify="notify"
+        :notify="$notify"
         @entity-selected="handleEntitySelected"
         @cancel="cancel"
       />
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
   $notify!: (notification: any, timeout?: number) => void;
   notify!: ReturnType<typeof createNotifyHelpers>;
 
+  /**
+   * Safe notification method that ensures notify helpers are available
+   */
+  get safeNotify() {
+    if (!this.notify && this.$notify) {
+      this.notify = createNotifyHelpers(this.$notify);
+    }
+    return this.notify;
+  }
+
   @Prop() fromProjectId = "";
   @Prop() toProjectId = "";
   @Prop({ default: false }) showProjects = false;
@@ -258,7 +268,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
       }
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       logger.error("Error retrieving settings from database:", err);
-      this.notify.error(
+      this.safeNotify.error(
         err instanceof Error
           ? err.message
           : "There was an error retrieving your settings.",
@@ -307,18 +317,21 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
 
   async confirm() {
     if (!this.activeDid) {
-      this.notify.error(
+      this.safeNotify.error(
         "You must select an identifier before you can record a give.",
         TIMEOUTS.STANDARD,
       );
       return;
     }
     if (parseFloat(this.amountInput) < 0) {
-      this.notify.error("You may not send a negative number.", TIMEOUTS.SHORT);
+      this.safeNotify.error(
+        "You may not send a negative number.",
+        TIMEOUTS.SHORT,
+      );
       return;
     }
     if (!this.description && !parseFloat(this.amountInput)) {
-      this.notify.error(
+      this.safeNotify.error(
         `You must enter a description or some number of ${
           this.libsUtil.UNIT_LONG[this.unitCode]
         }.`,
@@ -329,7 +342,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
 
     // Check for person conflict
     if (this.hasPersonConflict) {
-      this.notify.error(
+      this.safeNotify.error(
         "You cannot select the same person as both giver and recipient.",
         TIMEOUTS.STANDARD,
       );
@@ -337,7 +350,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
     }
 
     this.close();
-    this.notify.toast("Recording the give...", undefined, TIMEOUTS.BRIEF);
+    this.safeNotify.toast("Recording the give...", undefined, TIMEOUTS.BRIEF);
     // this is asynchronous, but we don't need to wait for it to complete
     await this.recordGive(
       (this.giver?.did as string) || null,
@@ -417,12 +430,12 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
       if (!result.success) {
         const errorMessage = this.getGiveCreationErrorMessage(result);
         logger.error("Error with give creation result:", result);
-        this.notify.error(
+        this.safeNotify.error(
           errorMessage || "There was an error creating the give.",
           TIMEOUTS.MODAL,
         );
       } else {
-        this.notify.success("That gift was recorded.", TIMEOUTS.VERY_LONG);
+        this.safeNotify.success("That gift was recorded.", TIMEOUTS.VERY_LONG);
         if (this.callbackOnSuccess) {
           this.callbackOnSuccess(amount);
         }
@@ -434,7 +447,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
         error.userMessage ||
         serverMessageForUser(error) ||
         "There was an error recording the give.";
-      this.notify.error(errorMessage, TIMEOUTS.MODAL);
+      this.safeNotify.error(errorMessage, TIMEOUTS.MODAL);
     }
   }
 
@@ -454,7 +467,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
   }
 
   explainData() {
-    this.notify.info(libsUtil.PRIVACY_MESSAGE, TIMEOUTS.MODAL);
+    this.safeNotify.info(libsUtil.PRIVACY_MESSAGE, TIMEOUTS.MODAL);
   }
 
   selectGiver(contact?: Contact) {
@@ -494,7 +507,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
       }
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error("Error loading projects:", error);
-      this.notify.error("Failed to load projects", TIMEOUTS.STANDARD);
+      this.safeNotify.error("Failed to load projects", TIMEOUTS.STANDARD);
     }
   }
 
@@ -647,7 +660,17 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
   }
 
   created() {
-    this.notify = createNotifyHelpers(this.$notify);
+    // Initialize notify helpers when component is created
+    if (this.$notify) {
+      this.notify = createNotifyHelpers(this.$notify);
+    }
+  }
+
+  mounted() {
+    // Ensure notify helpers are initialized if not already done
+    if (!this.notify && this.$notify) {
+      this.notify = createNotifyHelpers(this.$notify);
+    }
   }
 }
 </script>