diff --git a/basis/cocoa/messages/messages.factor b/basis/cocoa/messages/messages.factor
index 2569c391d1..a744087037 100644
--- a/basis/cocoa/messages/messages.factor
+++ b/basis/cocoa/messages/messages.factor
@@ -237,8 +237,8 @@ ERROR: no-objc-type name ;
 
 : import-objc-class ( name quot -- )
     2dup swap define-objc-class-word
-    over objc_getClass [ drop ] [ call( -- ) ] if
-    dup objc_getClass [
+    over class-exists? [ drop ] [ call( -- ) ] if
+    dup class-exists? [
         [ objc_getClass register-objc-methods ]
         [ objc_getMetaClass register-objc-methods ] bi
     ] [ drop ] if ;