diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ast.py b/Lib/test/test_ast.py
index 14e31bd..e592032 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ast.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ast.py
@@ -161,6 +161,14 @@
         im = ast.parse("from . import y").body[0]
         self.assertIsNone(im.module)
 
+    def test_base_classes(self):
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.For, ast.stmt))
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.Name, ast.expr))
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.stmt, ast.AST))
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.expr, ast.AST))
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.comprehension, ast.AST))
+        self.assertTrue(issubclass(ast.Gt, ast.AST))
+
     def test_nodeclasses(self):
         x = ast.BinOp(1, 2, 3, lineno=0)
         self.assertEquals(x.left, 1)