diff --git a/util/attr/attr.js b/util/attr/attr.js
index 5db21c69658..1b13f4b8784 100644
--- a/util/attr/attr.js
+++ b/util/attr/attr.js
@@ -40,12 +40,13 @@ steal("can/util/can.js", function (can) {
 			map: {
 				"class": function(el, val) {
 					val = val || '';
-					el.className = val;
 
-					if(el.className !== val) {
-						// e.g. svg elements #2015
+					if(el instanceof SVGElement) {
 						el.setAttribute('class', val);
 					}
+					else {
+						el.className = val;
+					}
 
 					return val;
 				},