diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e95669e..a107548 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -327,6 +327,10 @@ $('.markdownx').on('markdownx.update', function(e, response) {
 
 # Changelog
 
+###### v1.7.1
+
+* Fix for custom CSS classes in the widget
+
 ###### v1.7
 
 * SVG file upload support
diff --git a/markdownx/widgets.py b/markdownx/widgets.py
index 2a2c2be..69e6de9 100755
--- a/markdownx/widgets.py
+++ b/markdownx/widgets.py
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ from .settings import (
 class MarkdownxWidget(forms.Textarea):
 
     def render(self, name, value, attrs=None):
-        if attrs is None:
-            attrs = {}
-        elif 'class' in attrs:
+        attrs = self.build_attrs(attrs, name=name)
+        print(attrs)
+
+        if 'class' in attrs:
             attrs['class'] += ' markdownx-editor'
         else:
             attrs.update({'class':'markdownx-editor'})
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index deaa54d..1894683 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def get_requirements():
 
 setup(
     name='django-markdownx',
-    version='1.7',
+    version='1.7.1',
     packages=find_packages(),
     include_package_data=True,
     description='django-markdownx is a Markdown editor built for Django.',