diff --git a/app/scripts/background.js b/app/scripts/background.js
index 8c6adff04..313dbbc66 100644
--- a/app/scripts/background.js
+++ b/app/scripts/background.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const handleRequestsFromStream = require('web3-stream-provider/handler')
 const ObjectMultiplex = require('./lib/obj-multiplex')
 const PortStream = require('./lib/port-stream.js')
 const IdentityStore = require('./lib/idStore')
+const createUnlockRequestNotification = require('./lib/notifications.js').createUnlockRequestNotification
 const createTxNotification = require('./lib/notifications.js').createTxNotification
 const createMsgNotification = require('./lib/notifications.js').createMsgNotification
 const configManager = require('./lib/config-manager-singleton')
@@ -65,10 +66,10 @@ var providerOpts = {
     cb(null, result)
   },
   // tx signing
-  approveTransaction: addUnconfirmedTx,
+  approveTransaction: approveTransaction,
   signTransaction: idStore.signTransaction.bind(idStore),
   // msg signing
-  approveMessage: addUnconfirmedMsg,
+  approveMessage: approveMessage,
   signMessage: idStore.signMessage.bind(idStore),
 }
 var provider = MetaMaskProvider(providerOpts)
@@ -217,6 +218,30 @@ function updateBadge(state){
 // Add unconfirmed Tx + Msg
 //
 
+function approveTransaction(txParams, cb){
+  var state = idStore.getState()
+  if (!state.isUnlocked) {
+    createUnlockRequestNotification({
+      title: 'Account Unlock Request',
+    })
+    var txId = idStore.addUnconfirmedTransaction(txParams, cb)
+  } else {
+    addUnconfirmedTx(txParams, cb)    
+  }
+}
+
+function approveMessage(msgParams, cb){
+  var state = idStore.getState()
+  if (!state.isUnlocked) {
+    createUnlockRequestNotification({
+      title: 'Account Unlock Request',
+    })
+    var msgId = idStore.addUnconfirmedMessage(msgParams, cb)
+  } else {
+    addUnconfirmedMsg(msgParams, cb)    
+  }
+}
+
 function addUnconfirmedTx(txParams, cb){
   var txId = idStore.addUnconfirmedTransaction(txParams, cb)
   createTxNotification({
diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js b/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
index 2b7cbfe66..0b55417b2 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const uiUtils = require('../../../ui/app/util')
 var notificationHandlers = {}
 
 module.exports = {
+  createUnlockRequestNotification: createUnlockRequestNotification,
   createTxNotification: createTxNotification,
   createMsgNotification: createMsgNotification,
 }
@@ -24,6 +25,19 @@ chrome.notifications.onClosed.addListener(function(notificationId){
 })
 
 // creation helper
+function createUnlockRequestNotification(opts){
+  var message = 'An Ethereum app has requested a signature. Please unlock your account.'
+
+  var id = createId()
+  chrome.notifications.create(id, {
+    type: 'basic',
+    iconUrl: '/images/icon-128.png',
+    title: opts.title,
+    message: message,
+  })
+  
+}
+
 function createTxNotification(opts){
   var message = [
     'to: '+uiUtils.addressSummary(opts.txParams.to),