diff --git a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/notification/NotificationManagerFactory.java b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/notification/NotificationManagerFactory.java
index da12ab574c3fc234d15b6820602cf8fa884165a7..5fc1d4ae41f4180cb191b822173c0d75d43ef11f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/notification/NotificationManagerFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/notification/NotificationManagerFactory.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import net.floodlightcontroller.notification.syslog.SyslogNotificationFactory;
  * instance.
  *
  * @author kevinwang
+ * @edited Ryan Izard, rizard@g.clemson.edu, ryan.izard@bigswich.com
  *
  */
 public class NotificationManagerFactory {
@@ -14,7 +15,17 @@ public class NotificationManagerFactory {
     public static final String  NOTIFICATION_FACTORY_NAME =
             "floodlight.notification.factoryName";
 
-    // default to SyslogNotificationFactory
+    /**
+     * Do not set the default here. Delay until init(), which will be
+     * called by the JVM at class load. This will allow the unit tests
+     * to test dynamic binding to a factory, then reset to the default
+     * factory by clearing the System property and then calling init() 
+     * again for subsequent unit tests that actually need a non-mocked 
+     * NotificationManagerFactory.
+     * 
+     * If a dynamic binding is not specified, init() will fall through 
+     * to else and the default of SyslogNotifcationFactory will be used.
+     */
     private static INotificationManagerFactory factory; 
 
     /**
@@ -28,7 +39,13 @@ public class NotificationManagerFactory {
     }
 
     /**
-     * A simple mechanism to initialize factory with dynamic binding
+     * A simple mechanism to initialize factory with dynamic binding.
+     * 
+     * Extended to default to SyslogNotifcationFactory in the event
+     * a dynamic binding is not specified via System properties.
+     * This allows init() to be called multiple times for the unit tests
+     * and select the default or a another factory if the System property
+     * is cleared or is set, respectively.
      */
     protected static void init() {
         String notificationfactoryClassName = null;
@@ -47,7 +64,7 @@ public class NotificationManagerFactory {
                 throw new RuntimeException(e);
             }
          } else {
-        	 factory = new SyslogNotificationFactory();
+        	 factory = new SyslogNotificationFactory(); // use as the default
          }
     }