diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index debf422..9758d50 100755
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -2036,7 +2036,10 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
     def compile_class_expression(self, expressions):
         def rewire_init(expr):
             new_args = []
-            if expr[0] == HySymbol("setv"):
+            if (isinstance(expr, HyExpression)
+                and len(expr) > 1
+                and isinstance(expr[0], HySymbol)
+                and expr[0] == HySymbol("setv")):
                 pairs = expr[1:]
                 while len(pairs) > 0:
                     k, v = (pairs.pop(0), pairs.pop(0))
diff --git a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
index 2aea3a9..c779fbd 100644
--- a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
+++ b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ def test_ast_good_defclass():
     "Make sure AST can compile valid defclass"
     can_compile("(defclass a)")
     can_compile("(defclass a [])")
+    can_compile("(defclass a [] None 42)")
+    can_compile("(defclass a [] None \"test\")")
+    can_compile("(defclass a [] None (print \"foo\"))")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(not PY3, reason="Python 3 supports class keywords")