diff --git a/lib/class.js b/lib/class.js
index e25ab08..8034549 100644
--- a/lib/class.js
+++ b/lib/class.js
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ var Class = function()
 };
 
 
+var prop_copy = function( props, dest )
+{
+    // copy each of the properties to the destination object
+    for ( property in props )
+    {
+        dest[ property ] = props[ property ];
+    }
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Mimics class inheritance
  *
@@ -58,6 +68,10 @@ var extend = function()
             }
         };
 
+    // copy the given properties into the new prototype
+    prop_copy( props, prototype );
+
+    // set up the new class
     new_class.prototype   = prototype;
     new_class.constructor = new_class;
 
diff --git a/test/test-class.js b/test/test-class.js
index 869ad77..42684e6 100644
--- a/test/test-class.js
+++ b/test/test-class.js
@@ -32,17 +32,21 @@ assert.ok(
 );
 
 
+// these two variables are declared outside of the class to ensure that they
+// will still be set even if the context of the constructor is wrong
+var construct_count   = 0,
+    construct_context = null;
+
 // create a basic test class
-var construct_count = 0;
 var Foo = Class.extend(
 {
     __construct: function()
     {
         construct_count++;
+        construct_context = this;
     },
 });
 
-
 assert.ok(
     ( Foo instanceof Object ),
     "Extend method creates a new object"
@@ -53,16 +57,29 @@ assert.ok(
     "Created class contains extend method in prototype"
 );
 
+assert.ok(
+    ( Foo.prototype.__construct instanceof Function ),
+    "Provided properties should be copied to the new class prototype"
+);
+
 assert.equal(
     construct_count,
     0,
     "Constructor should not be called before class is instantiated"
 );
 
+
 var obj = new Foo();
+
 assert.equal(
     construct_count,
     1,
     "Constructor should be invoked once the class is instantiated"
 );
 
+assert.equal(
+    obj,
+    construct_context,
+    "Constructor should be invoked within the context of the class instance"
+);
+