diff --git a/lib/class.js b/lib/class.js
index ff740cf..4eaac7e 100644
--- a/lib/class.js
+++ b/lib/class.js
@@ -361,6 +361,16 @@ function createImplement( base, ifaces, cname )
                 ext_base = args.pop()
             ;
 
+            // if a base was already provided for extending, don't allow them to
+            // give us yet another one (doesn't make sense)
+            if ( base && ext_base )
+            {
+                throw Error(
+                    "Cannot override parent " + base.toString() + " with " +
+                    ext_base.toString() + " via extend()"
+                );
+            }
+
             // if a name was provided, use it
             if ( cname )
             {
diff --git a/test/test-class-implement.js b/test/test-class-implement.js
index ff46d61..54bf454 100644
--- a/test/test-class-implement.js
+++ b/test/test-class-implement.js
@@ -189,3 +189,27 @@ var Type = Interface.extend( {
     );
 } )();
 
+
+/**
+ * Consider the following scenario:
+ *
+ * MyClass.implement( Type ).extend( MyOtherClass, {} );
+ *
+ * What the above is essentially saying is: "I'd like to extend MyClass by
+ * implementing Type. Oh, no, wait, I'd actually like it to extend
+ * MyOtherClass." That doesn't make sense! Likely, it's unintended. Prevent
+ * confusion and bugs. Throw an error.
+ */
+( function testCannotSpecifyParentAfterImplementingAtopExistingClass()
+{
+    assert.throws( function()
+        {
+            // should not be permitted
+            PlainFoo.implement( Type, Type2 ).extend( PlainFoo2, {} );
+        },
+        Error,
+        "Cannot specify new parent for extend() when implementing from " +
+            "existing class"
+    );
+} )();
+