diff --git a/source/_patterns/03-layouts/node/node.twig b/source/_patterns/03-layouts/node/node.twig
index 90ffffc696dff9c990f4655e3149a979562c90d2..08a493397b203f194c83442ad99fa38d3dbc1c4a 100644
--- a/source/_patterns/03-layouts/node/node.twig
+++ b/source/_patterns/03-layouts/node/node.twig
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+{% if classes %}
+  {% set classes = classes %}
+{% else %}
+  {% set classes = [] %}
+{% endif %}
+
 {% if has_sidebar == 'Yes' %}
   {% set classes = classes | merge(['uw-node__node--with-sidebar']) %}
 {% else %}