diff --git a/collects/scheme/private/class-internal.ss b/collects/scheme/private/class-internal.ss
index a6ae8f06ee..a9040846b5 100644
--- a/collects/scheme/private/class-internal.ss
+++ b/collects/scheme/private/class-internal.ss
@@ -148,10 +148,12 @@
 
   (define-for-syntax not-in-a-class
     (lambda (stx)
-      (raise-syntax-error
-       #f
-       "use of a class keyword is not in a class"
-       stx)))
+      (if (eq? (syntax-local-context) 'expression)
+          (raise-syntax-error
+           #f
+           "use of a class keyword is not in a class"
+           stx)
+          (quasisyntax/loc stx (#%expression #,stx)))))
 
   (define-syntax define/provide-context-keyword
     (syntax-rules ()