diff --git a/lib/ui/validation/messages.js b/lib/ui/validation/messages.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/ui/validation/messages.js
+++ b/lib/ui/validation/messages.js
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-(function() {
+(function(root) {
 
   'use strict';
 
+  var availity = root.availity;
+
   availity.ui.controller('avValContainerController', function($scope, $timeout) {
 
     $scope.messages = {
-      message: '&nbsp;'
+      message: null
     };
 
     this.message = function(ngModel) {
@@ -14,7 +16,7 @@
       if(ngModel.avResults.violations.length && ngModel.avResults.violations[0].message) {
         message = ngModel.avResults.violations[0].message;
       }else {
-        message = '&nbsp;';
+        message = null;
       }
 
       // $timeout is needed to update the UI from $broadcast events
@@ -38,4 +40,4 @@
   });
 
 
-})();
+})(window);
don't use non-breaking space for validation message container