diff --git a/jnius/jnius_export_class.pxi b/jnius/jnius_export_class.pxi
index 1f00ec2c..c7b9bdc6 100644
--- a/jnius/jnius_export_class.pxi
+++ b/jnius/jnius_export_class.pxi
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ cdef dict jclass_register = {}
 
 class MetaJavaClass(type):
     def __new__(meta, classname, bases, classDict):
-        meta.resolve_class(classDict)
+        meta.resolve_class(classDict, bases)
         tp = type.__new__(meta, classname, bases, classDict)
         jclass_register[classDict['__javaclass__']] = tp
         return tp
@@ -38,10 +38,20 @@ class MetaJavaClass(type):
         return jclass_register.get(name)
 
     @classmethod
-    def resolve_class(meta, classDict):
+    def resolve_class(meta, classDict, bases):
+        def find_javaclass(bases):
+            import inspect
+            for b in bases:
+                if hasattr(b, '__javaclass__'):
+                    return b.__javaclass__
+
         # search the Java class, and bind to our object
         if not '__javaclass__' in classDict:
-            raise JavaException('__javaclass__ definition missing')
+            # try base classes. This allows inheriting from Java classes.
+            cls = find_javaclass(bases)
+            if cls is None:             
+                raise JavaException('__javaclass__ definition missing')
+            classDict['__javaclass__'] = cls
 
         cdef JavaClassStorage jcs = JavaClassStorage()
         cdef bytes __javaclass__ = <bytes>classDict['__javaclass__']