diff --git a/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/ESH-INF/config/config.xml b/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/ESH-INF/config/config.xml
index d1999f29d0f..36b8915c711 100644
--- a/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/ESH-INF/config/config.xml
+++ b/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/ESH-INF/config/config.xml
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
 			<description>The UDN identifies the Zone Player.</description>
 			<required>true</required>
 		</parameter>
-		<parameter name="notificationTimeout" type="integer">
+		<parameter name="notificationTimeout" type="integer" unit="s">
 			<label>Notification Timeout</label>
-			<description>Specifies the amount of time for which the notification sound will be played</description>
-			<default>40</default>
-			<required>true</required>
+			<description>Specifies the amount of time in seconds for which the notification sound will be played</description>
+			<unitLabel>second</unitLabel>
+			<default>20</default>
 		</parameter>
 		<parameter name="refresh" type="integer">
 			<label>Refresh interval</label>
diff --git a/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/binding/sonos/handler/ZonePlayerHandler.java b/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/binding/sonos/handler/ZonePlayerHandler.java
index b07651235b3..e6a4002283a 100644
--- a/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/binding/sonos/handler/ZonePlayerHandler.java
+++ b/extensions/binding/org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/binding/sonos/handler/ZonePlayerHandler.java
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos.internal.SonosXMLParser;
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos.internal.SonosZoneGroup;
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.binding.sonos.internal.SonosZonePlayerState;
-import org.eclipse.smarthome.config.core.Configuration;
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.config.discovery.DiscoveryServiceRegistry;
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.core.library.types.DecimalType;
 import org.eclipse.smarthome.core.library.types.IncreaseDecreaseType;
@@ -101,12 +100,12 @@ public class ZonePlayerHandler extends BaseThingHandler implements UpnpIOPartici
     private static final int SOCKET_TIMEOUT = 5000;
 
     /**
-     * Default notification timeout
+     * Default notification timeout (in seconds)
      */
-    private static final Integer DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT = 40000;
-    
+    private static final Integer DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT = 20;
+
     /**
-     * configurable notification timeout
+     * configurable notification timeout (in seconds)
      */
     private Integer notificationTimeout = null;
 
@@ -212,15 +211,12 @@ public void initialize() {
 
         if (getUDN() != null) {
             onUpdate();
-            
-            if (getConfigAs(ZonePlayerConfiguration.class).notificationTimeout == null) {
-                Configuration c = editConfiguration();
-                c.put(ZonePlayerConfiguration.NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT, DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT);
-                updateConfiguration(c);
-            }
-            
+
             this.notificationTimeout = getConfigAs(ZonePlayerConfiguration.class).notificationTimeout;
-            
+            if (this.notificationTimeout == null) {
+                this.notificationTimeout = DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_TIMEOUT;
+            }
+
             super.initialize();
         } else {
             updateStatus(ThingStatus.OFFLINE, ThingStatusDetail.CONFIGURATION_ERROR);
@@ -2388,7 +2384,7 @@ private void waitForFinishedNotification() {
         // check Sonos state events to determine the end of the notification sound
         String notificationTitle = stateMap.get("CurrentTitle");
         long playstart = System.currentTimeMillis();
-        while (System.currentTimeMillis() - playstart < this.notificationTimeout.longValue()) {
+        while (System.currentTimeMillis() - playstart < this.notificationTimeout.longValue() * 1000) {
             try {
                 Thread.sleep(50);
                 if (!notificationTitle.equals(stateMap.get("CurrentTitle"))
@@ -2407,7 +2403,7 @@ private void waitForTransportState(String state) {
             while (!stateMap.get("TransportState").equals(state)) {
                 try {
                     Thread.sleep(50);
-                    if (System.currentTimeMillis() - start > this.notificationTimeout.longValue()) {
+                    if (System.currentTimeMillis() - start > this.notificationTimeout.longValue() * 1000) {
                         break;
                     }
                 } catch (InterruptedException e) {
@@ -2423,7 +2419,7 @@ private void waitForNotTransportState(String state) {
             while (stateMap.get("TransportState").equals(state)) {
                 try {
                     Thread.sleep(50);
-                    if (System.currentTimeMillis() - start > this.notificationTimeout.longValue()) {
+                    if (System.currentTimeMillis() - start > this.notificationTimeout.longValue() * 1000) {
                         break;
                     }
                 } catch (InterruptedException e) {