diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/notifications.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/notifications.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cf4d43b911
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/notifications.js
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+// Dependencies
+zrequire('muting');
+zrequire('stream_data');
+
+set_global('document', {
+    hasFocus: function () {
+        return true;
+    },
+});
+set_global('window', {});
+set_global('page_params', {
+    is_admin: false,
+    realm_users: [],
+});
+
+zrequire('notifications');
+
+// Not muted streams
+var two = {
+    subscribed: true,
+    name: 'stream_two',
+    stream_id: 20,
+    in_home_view: true,
+};
+
+// Muted streams
+var one = {
+    subscribed: true,
+    name: 'stream_one',
+    stream_id: 10,
+    in_home_view: false,
+};
+
+var three = {
+    subscribed: true,
+    name: 'stream_three',
+    stream_id: 30,
+    in_home_view: false,
+};
+
+// Add muted topics
+muting.add_muted_topic(one.name, 'topic_one');
+muting.add_muted_topic(one.name, 'topic_three');
+muting.add_muted_topic(three.name, 'topic_five');
+muting.add_muted_topic(three.name, 'topic_seven');
+
+// Subscribe to topic
+stream_data.add_sub('stream_two', two);
+
+(function test_message_is_notifiable() {
+    // This function tests logic for 4 cases
+    // that should override any of the user's notifications settings
+    // and a 5th that passes it on the user's notifications settings
+
+
+    // Case 1: If the message was sent by this user,
+    //  DO NOT notify the user
+        // In this test, all other circumstances should trigger notification
+        // EXCEPT sent_by_me, which should trump them
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 10,
+            content: 'message number 1',
+            sent_by_me: true,
+            notification_sent: false,
+            mentioned_me_directly: true,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_two',
+            stream_id: 20,
+            subject: 'topic_two',
+        }), false);
+
+    // Case 2: If the user has already been sent a notificaton about this message,
+    //  DO NOT notify the user
+        // In this test, all other circumstances should trigger notification
+        // EXCEPT notification_sent, which should trump them
+        // (ie: it mentions user, it's not muted, etc)
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 20,
+            content: 'message number 2',
+            sent_by_me: false,
+            notification_sent: true,
+            mentioned_me_directly: true,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_two',
+            stream_id: 20,
+            subject: 'topic_two',
+        }), false);
+
+    // Case 3: If a message mentions the user directly,
+    //  DO notify the user
+        // Mentioning trumps muting
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 30,
+            content: 'message number three',
+            sent_by_me: false,
+            notification_sent: false,
+            mentioned_me_directly: true,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_one',
+            stream_id: 10,
+            subject: 'topic_three',
+        }), true);
+
+        // Mentioning should trigger notification in unmuted topic
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 40,
+            content: 'message number 4',
+            sent_by_me: false,
+            notification_sent: false,
+            mentioned_me_directly: true,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_two',
+            stream_id: 20,
+            subject: 'topic_two',
+        }), true);
+
+    // Case 4: If a message is in a muted stream
+    //  and does not mention the user DIRECTLY,
+    //  DO NOT notify the user
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 50,
+            content: 'message number 5',
+            sent_by_me: false,
+            notification_sent: false,
+            mentioned_me_directly: false,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_one',
+            stream_id: 10,
+            subject: 'topic_one',
+        }), false);
+
+    // Case 5
+        // If none of the above cases apply
+        // (ie: topic is not muted, message does not mention user,
+        //  no notification sent before, message not sent by user),
+        // return true to pass it to notifications settings
+        assert.equal(notifications.message_is_notifiable({
+            id: 60,
+            content: 'message number 6',
+            sent_by_me: false,
+            notification_sent: false,
+            mentioned_me_directly: false,
+            type: 'stream',
+            stream: 'stream_two',
+            stream_id: 20,
+            subject: 'topic_two',
+        }), true);
+}());
diff --git a/static/js/notifications.js b/static/js/notifications.js
index 6cbdd15549..f5c4aecaa9 100644
--- a/static/js/notifications.js
+++ b/static/js/notifications.js
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ exports.close_notification = function (message) {
     });
 };
 
-function message_is_notifiable(message) {
+exports.message_is_notifiable = function (message) {
     // Independent of the user's notification settings, are there
     // properties of the message that unconditionally mean we
     // shouldn't notify about it.
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ function message_is_notifiable(message) {
     // Everything else is on the table; next filter based on notification
     // settings.
     return true;
-}
+};
 
 function should_send_desktop_notification(message) {
     // For streams, send if desktop notifications are enabled for this
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ exports.request_desktop_notifications_permission = function () {
 
 exports.received_messages = function (messages) {
     _.each(messages, function (message) {
-        if (!message_is_notifiable(message)) {
+        if (!exports.message_is_notifiable(message)) {
             return;
         }
         if (!unread.message_unread(message)) {