diff --git a/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.cpp b/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.cpp
index 1cf8c4f0002..905bdb9703b 100644
--- a/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.cpp
+++ b/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.cpp
@@ -987,3 +987,19 @@ void MythUINotificationCenter::UpdateScreen(MythScreenType *screen)
         s->doInit();
     }
 }
+
+void ShowNotificationError(const QString &msg,
+                           const QString &from,
+                           const QString &detail)
+{
+    MythErrorNotification n(msg, from, detail);
+    MythUINotificationCenter::GetInstance()->Queue(n);
+}
+
+void ShowNotification(const QString &msg,
+                      const QString &from,
+                      const QString &detail)
+{
+    MythNotification n(msg, from, detail);
+    MythUINotificationCenter::GetInstance()->Queue(n);
+}
diff --git a/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.h b/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.h
index 32133c87746..79ffda9d7e1 100644
--- a/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.h
+++ b/mythtv/libs/libmythui/mythuinotificationcenter.h
@@ -140,4 +140,15 @@ private slots:
     static MythUINotificationCenter        *g_singleton;
 };
 
+/**
+ * convenience utility to display error message as notification
+ */
+MUI_PUBLIC void ShowNotificationError(const QString &msg,
+                                      const QString &from = "",
+                                      const QString &detail = "");
+
+MUI_PUBLIC void ShowNotification(const QString &msg,
+                                 const QString &from = "",
+                                 const QString &detail = "");
+
 #endif /* defined(__MythTV__mythnotifications__) */