diff --git a/blocks/dock.js b/blocks/dock.js
index 73249e9f4f3..46c047932e1 100644
--- a/blocks/dock.js
+++ b/blocks/dock.js
@@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ M.core_dock.genericblock.prototype = {
             }, this);
             // Add a close icon
             // Must set the image src seperatly of we get an error with XML strict headers
-            var closeicon = Y.Node.create('<span class="hidepanelicon" tabindex="0"><img alt="" /></span>');
+            var closeicon = Y.Node.create('<span class="hidepanelicon" tabindex="0"><img alt="'+M.str.block.hidepanel+'" title="'+M.str.block.hidedockpanel+'" /></span>');
             closeicon.one('img').setAttribute('src', M.util.image_url('t/dockclose', 'moodle'));
             closeicon.on('forceclose|click', this.hide, this);
             closeicon.on('dock:actionkey',this.hide, this, {actions:{enter:true,toggle:true}});
diff --git a/lang/en/block.php b/lang/en/block.php
index a685f0ef0e6..d662bebfb77 100644
--- a/lang/en/block.php
+++ b/lang/en/block.php
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ $string['defaultweight'] = 'Default weight';
 $string['defaultweight_help'] = 'The default weight allows you to choose roughly where you want the block to appear in the chosen region, either at the top or the bottom. The final location is calculated from all the blocks in that region (for example, only one block can actually be at the top). This value can be overridden on specific pages if required.';
 $string['deletecheck'] = 'Delete {$a} block?';
 $string['deleteblockcheck'] = 'Are you sure that you want to delete this block titled {$a}?';
+$string['hidedockpanel'] = 'Hide the dock panel';
+$string['hidepanel'] = 'Hide panel';
 $string['moveblockhere'] = 'Move block here';
 $string['movingthisblockcancel'] = 'Moving this block ({$a})';
 $string['onthispage'] = 'On this page';
diff --git a/lib/outputrequirementslib.php b/lib/outputrequirementslib.php
index c57b5d04521..d4eff1ccc2a 100644
--- a/lib/outputrequirementslib.php
+++ b/lib/outputrequirementslib.php
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ class page_requirements_manager {
                     $module = array('name'     => 'core_dock',
                                     'fullpath' => '/blocks/dock.js',
                                     'requires' => array('base', 'node', 'event-custom', 'event-mouseenter', 'event-resize'),
-                                    'strings' => array(array('addtodock', 'block'),array('undockitem', 'block'),array('undockall', 'block'),array('thisdirectionvertical', 'langconfig')));
+                                    'strings' => array(array('addtodock', 'block'),array('undockitem', 'block'),array('undockall', 'block'),array('thisdirectionvertical', 'langconfig'),array('hidedockpanel', 'block'),array('hidepanel', 'block')));
                     break;
                 case 'core_message':
                     $module = array('name'     => 'core_message',