diff --git a/rhodecode/model/notification.py b/rhodecode/model/notification.py
--- a/rhodecode/model/notification.py
+++ b/rhodecode/model/notification.py
@@ -42,9 +42,6 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class NotificationModel(BaseModel):
 
-    def __get_user(self, user):
-        return self._get_instance(User, user, callback=User.get_by_username)
-
     def __get_notification(self, notification):
         if isinstance(notification, Notification):
             return notification
@@ -77,12 +74,12 @@ class NotificationModel(BaseModel):
         if recipients and not getattr(recipients, '__iter__', False):
             raise Exception('recipients must be a list of iterable')
 
-        created_by_obj = self.__get_user(created_by)
+        created_by_obj = self._get_user(created_by)
 
         if recipients:
             recipients_objs = []
             for u in recipients:
-                obj = self.__get_user(u)
+                obj = self._get_user(u)
                 if obj:
                     recipients_objs.append(obj)
             recipients_objs = set(recipients_objs)
@@ -126,7 +123,7 @@ class NotificationModel(BaseModel):
         # we don't want to remove actual notification just the assignment
         try:
             notification = self.__get_notification(notification)
-            user = self.__get_user(user)
+            user = self._get_user(user)
             if notification and user:
                 obj = UserNotification.query()\
                         .filter(UserNotification.user == user)\
@@ -140,29 +137,29 @@ class NotificationModel(BaseModel):
             raise
 
     def get_for_user(self, user):
-        user = self.__get_user(user)
+        user = self._get_user(user)
         return user.notifications
 
     def mark_all_read_for_user(self, user):
-        user = self.__get_user(user)
+        user = self._get_user(user)
         UserNotification.query()\
             .filter(UserNotification.read == False)\
             .update({'read': True})
 
     def get_unread_cnt_for_user(self, user):
-        user = self.__get_user(user)
+        user = self._get_user(user)
         return UserNotification.query()\
                 .filter(UserNotification.read == False)\
                 .filter(UserNotification.user == user).count()
 
     def get_unread_for_user(self, user):
-        user = self.__get_user(user)
+        user = self._get_user(user)
         return [x.notification for x in UserNotification.query()\
                 .filter(UserNotification.read == False)\
                 .filter(UserNotification.user == user).all()]
 
     def get_user_notification(self, user, notification):
-        user = self.__get_user(user)
+        user = self._get_user(user)
         notification = self.__get_notification(notification)
 
         return UserNotification.query()\