diff --git a/cpp/ast.py b/cpp/ast.py
index 0103950..95ef5f1 100644
--- a/cpp/ast.py
+++ b/cpp/ast.py
@@ -1600,7 +1600,8 @@ def _get_class(self, class_type, visibility, templated_types):
 
         body = None
         if token.token_type == tokenize.SYNTAX and token.name == '{':
-            ast = ASTBuilder(self.get_scope(), self.filename, class_name,
+            name = class_name or '__unamed__'
+            ast = ASTBuilder(self.get_scope(), self.filename, name,
                              visibility, self.namespace_stack,
                              quiet=self.quiet)
             body = list(ast.generate())
diff --git a/test_ast.py b/test_ast.py
index eeadfc3..92b7842 100755
--- a/test_ast.py
+++ b/test_ast.py
@@ -596,6 +596,12 @@ def test_variable_initialization_with_complex_expression(self):
                                              initial_value='fct()+42'),
                          nodes[0])
 
+    def test_variable_anonymous_class(self):
+        nodes = list(MakeBuilder('class {public:} a;').generate())
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(nodes))
+        self.assertEqual(VariableDeclaration('a', Type(Class(None, body=[]))),
+                         nodes[0])
+
     def test_function_one_argument_with_name(self):
         for argument in ('Foo f', 'const Foo f', 'Foo& f', 'const Foo& f',
                          'unsigned int f', 'ns::foo f', 'std::vector<int> f',