diff --git a/src/growlFactory.js b/src/growlFactory.js
index d3e5329..7bceb51 100644
--- a/src/growlFactory.js
+++ b/src/growlFactory.js
@@ -165,20 +165,27 @@ angular.module("angular-growl").provider("growl", function() {
 			for (i = 0; i < length; i++) {
 				message = messages[i];
 
-				if (message[_messageTextKey] && message[_messageSeverityKey]) {
-					switch (message[_messageSeverityKey]) {
-						case "warn":
-							severity = "warn";
-							break;
-						case "success":
-							severity = "success";
-							break;
-						case "info":
-							severity = "info";
-							break;
-						case "error":
-							severity = "error";
-							break;
+
+				if (message[_messageTextKey]) {
+					if (message[_messageSeverityKey]) {
+						switch (message[_messageSeverityKey]) {
+							case "warn":
+								severity = "warn";
+								break;
+							case "success":
+								severity = "success";
+								break;
+							case "info":
+								severity = "info";
+								break;
+							case "error":
+								severity = "error";
+								break;
+						}
+					}
+					// default the severity to error if no severity is provided
+					else {
+						severity = 'error';
 					}
 					sendMessage(message[_messageTextKey], undefined, severity);
 				}