diff --git a/Python/compile.c b/Python/compile.c
index b655c25..567b230 100644
--- a/Python/compile.c
+++ b/Python/compile.c
@@ -1566,7 +1566,7 @@
             return 0;
         }
         /* return the (empty) __class__ cell */
-        str = PyUnicode_InternFromString("__class__");
+        str = PyUnicode_InternFromString("@__class__");
         if (str == NULL) {
             compiler_exit_scope(c);
             return 0;