diff --git a/base/classes.dtx b/base/classes.dtx
index 085c90414..a2dde6ade 100644
--- a/base/classes.dtx
+++ b/base/classes.dtx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 % \changes{v1.3p}{1995/11/30}{Added date of \LaTeX\ format to argument
 %    of \cs{NeedsTeXFormat}}
 %    \begin{macrocode}
-%<article|report|book>\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}[2018/12/01]
+%<article|report|book>\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}[1995/12/01]
 %    \end{macrocode}
 %
 %    Announce the Class name and its version: