diff --git a/tests/cloudpickle_test.py b/tests/cloudpickle_test.py
index f681aa274..0251f34ea 100644
--- a/tests/cloudpickle_test.py
+++ b/tests/cloudpickle_test.py
@@ -1179,7 +1179,9 @@ def func(x):
         self.assertEqual(cloned.__qualname__, func.__qualname__)
 
     def test_property(self):
-        class MyObject:
+        # Note that the @property decorator only has an effect on new-style
+        # classes.
+        class MyObject(object):
             _read_only_value = 1
             _read_write_value = 1