diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/mastodon.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/mastodon.py
index 3ba95407fec..45f62bba5be 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/mastodon.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/mastodon.py
@@ -33,38 +33,41 @@ PLATFORM_SCHEMA = PLATFORM_SCHEMA.extend({
 
 def get_service(hass, config, discovery_info=None):
     """Get the Mastodon notification service."""
-    from mastodon import Mastodon
-    from mastodon.Mastodon import MastodonUnauthorizedError
-
     client_id = config.get(CONF_CLIENT_ID)
     client_secret = config.get(CONF_CLIENT_SECRET)
     access_token = config.get(CONF_ACCESS_TOKEN)
     base_url = config.get(CONF_BASE_URL)
 
-    try:
-        mastodon = Mastodon(
-            client_id=client_id, client_secret=client_secret,
-            access_token=access_token, api_base_url=base_url)
-        mastodon.account_verify_credentials()
-    except MastodonUnauthorizedError:
-        _LOGGER.warning("Authentication failed")
-        return None
-
-    return MastodonNotificationService(mastodon)
+    return MastodonNotificationService(
+        client_id, client_secret, access_token, base_url)
 
 
 class MastodonNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
     """Implement the notification service for Mastodon."""
 
-    def __init__(self, api):
+    def __init__(self, client_id, client_secret, access_token, base_url):
         """Initialize the service."""
-        self._api = api
+        from mastodon import Mastodon
+        from mastodon.Mastodon import MastodonUnauthorizedError
+
+        self._client_id = client_id
+        self._client_secret = client_secret
+        self._access_token = access_token
+        self._base_url = base_url
+
+        try:
+            self._mastodon = Mastodon(
+                client_id=self._client_id, client_secret=self._client_secret,
+                access_token=self._access_token, api_base_url=self._base_url)
+            self._mastodon.account_verify_credentials()
+        except MastodonUnauthorizedError:
+            _LOGGER.error("Authentication failed")
 
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
         from mastodon.Mastodon import MastodonAPIError
 
         try:
-            self._api.toot(message)
+            self._mastodon.toot(message)
         except MastodonAPIError:
             _LOGGER.error("Unable to send message")