diff --git a/Lib/pickle.py b/Lib/pickle.py
index 7e8e6656683..21ea21536fa 100644
--- a/Lib/pickle.py
+++ b/Lib/pickle.py
@@ -164,7 +164,11 @@ def save(self, object, pers_save = 0):
         try:
             f = self.dispatch[t]
         except KeyError:
-            if issubclass(t, TypeType):
+            try:
+                issc = issubclass(t, TypeType)
+            except TypeError: # t is not a class
+                issc = 0
+            if issc:
                 self.save_global(object)
                 return