Note API is failing on BAO when creating contribution note

When I try to create a note against a contribution it's 'bouncing' on this line :: CRM_Core_Error::statusBounce(ts('We could not find your logged in user ID'));

if ( ! $params['contact_id'] ) {
if ( $params['entity_table'] =='civicrm_contact' )

{ $note->contact_id = $params['entity_id']; }

else

{ CRM_Core_Error::statusBounce(ts('We could not find your logged in user ID')); }

}

But the function doesn't actually make use of contact_id EXCEPT when entity_table == 'civicrm_contact' so I don't see any reason for the ELSE fail.