diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index 8b420a6af..4fcb271e7 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const BoxPointer = imports.ui.boxpointer;
 const CtrlAltTab = imports.ui.ctrlAltTab;
 const GnomeSession = imports.misc.gnomeSession;
 const GrabHelper = imports.ui.grabHelper;
+const Lightbox = imports.ui.lightbox;
 const Main = imports.ui.main;
 const PopupMenu = imports.ui.popupMenu;
 const Params = imports.misc.params;
@@ -1381,6 +1382,12 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
         this._inFullscreen = false;
         this._desktopClone = null;
 
+        this._lightbox = new Lightbox.Lightbox(global.window_group,
+                                               { inhibitEvents: true,
+                                                 fadeInTime: ANIMATION_TIME,
+                                                 fadeOutTime: ANIMATION_TIME
+                                               });
+
         this._corner = new Clutter.Rectangle({ width: 1,
                                                height: 1,
                                                opacity: 0,
@@ -1918,6 +1925,8 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
         this._desktopClone.y = 0;
         this._desktopClone.show();
 
+        this._lightbox.show();
+
         Tweener.addTween(this._desktopClone,
                          { y: this._desktopClone.y - this.actor.height,
                            time: ANIMATION_TIME,
@@ -1968,6 +1977,8 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
                                                            geometry.height + progress);
                            })
                          });
+
+        this._lightbox.hide();
     },
 
     _onIdleMonitorWatch: function(monitor, id, userBecameIdle) {