diff --git a/src/Classes.jl b/src/Classes.jl
index da73858..fed71de 100644
--- a/src/Classes.jl
+++ b/src/Classes.jl
@@ -251,13 +251,13 @@ function _defclass(clsname, supercls, mutable, wheres, exprs)
 
     # partition expressions into constructors and field defs
     ctors  = Vector{Expr}()
-    fields = Vector{Expr}()
+    fields = Vector{Union{Expr, Symbol}}()
     for ex in exprs
-        try
+        if ex isa Symbol || (ex isa Expr && ex.head === :(::) && ex.args[1] isa Symbol )  # x or x::Int64
+            push!(fields, ex)
+        else
             splitdef(ex)        # throws AssertionError if not a func def
             push!(ctors, ex)
-        catch
-            push!(fields, ex)
         end
     end
 
diff --git a/test/test_classes.jl b/test/test_classes.jl
index e752467..7b600ad 100644
--- a/test/test_classes.jl
+++ b/test/test_classes.jl
@@ -167,3 +167,11 @@ obj = AbstractLog{Float64}([1. 2.; 3. 4.])
 #     #= /Users/rjp/.julia/packages/MacroTools/4AjBS/src/utils.jl:302 =#
 #     new{T3, T4}(one, two, x, y)
 # end
+
+# x is a typeless field
+@class Cat begin
+    x
+end
+
+@test Cat(1).x == 1
+@test Cat("a").x == "a"