diff --git a/GPy/core/model.py b/GPy/core/model.py
index 35b046fd..c5d318e7 100644
--- a/GPy/core/model.py
+++ b/GPy/core/model.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class Model(Parameterized):
             self.obj_grads = np.clip(self._transform_gradients(self.objective_function_gradients()), -1e10, 1e10)
         return obj_f, self.obj_grads
 
-    def optimize(self, optimizer=None, start=None, messages=False, max_iters=1000, ipython_notebook=False, **kwargs):
+    def optimize(self, optimizer=None, start=None, messages=False, max_iters=1000, ipython_notebook=True, **kwargs):
         """
         Optimize the model using self.log_likelihood and self.log_likelihood_gradient, as well as self.priors.
 
@@ -255,16 +255,7 @@ class Model(Parameterized):
         else:
             optimizer = optimization.get_optimizer(optimizer)
             opt = optimizer(start, model=self, max_iters=max_iters, **kwargs)
-            
-        try:
-            from IPython.display import display
-            from IPython.html import widgets
-            display(widgets.TextWidget())
-            ipython_notebook = True
-        except:
-            # Not in Ipython notebook
-            ipython_notebook = False
-            
+                        
         with VerboseOptimization(self, opt, maxiters=max_iters, verbose=messages, ipython_notebook=ipython_notebook) as vo:
             opt.run(f_fp=self._objective_grads, f=self._objective, fp=self._grads)
             vo.finish(opt)
diff --git a/GPy/core/verbose_optimization.py b/GPy/core/verbose_optimization.py
index 78b6127e..1a87b3da 100644
--- a/GPy/core/verbose_optimization.py
+++ b/GPy/core/verbose_optimization.py
@@ -11,9 +11,8 @@ def exponents(fnow, current_grad):
     return np.sign(exps) * np.log10(exps).astype(int)
 
 class VerboseOptimization(object):
-    def __init__(self, model, opt, maxiters, verbose=True, current_iteration=0, ipython_notebook=False):
+    def __init__(self, model, opt, maxiters, verbose=False, current_iteration=0, ipython_notebook=True):
         self.verbose = verbose
-        self.ipython_notebook = ipython_notebook
         if self.verbose:
             self.model = model
             self.iteration = current_iteration
@@ -26,13 +25,18 @@ class VerboseOptimization(object):
 
             self.update()
 
-            if self.ipython_notebook:
+            try:
                 from IPython.display import display
                 from IPython.html.widgets import FloatProgressWidget, HTMLWidget, ContainerWidget
                 self.text = HTMLWidget()
                 self.progress = FloatProgressWidget()
                 self.model_show = HTMLWidget()
+                self.ipython_notebook = ipython_notebook
+            except:
+                # Not in Ipython notebook
+                self.ipython_notebook = False
 
+            if self.ipython_notebook:
                 self.text.set_css('width', '100%')
                 #self.progress.set_css('width', '100%')
 
@@ -140,6 +144,7 @@ class VerboseOptimization(object):
             self.print_out()
 
             if not self.ipython_notebook:
-                print
+                print ''
                 print 'Optimization finished in {0:.5g} Seconds'.format(self.stop-self.start)
+                print 'Optimization status: {0:.5g}'.format(self.status)
                 print