diff --git a/apachesolr_autocomplete.module b/apachesolr_autocomplete.module
index 189954f..3f09fc9 100644
--- a/apachesolr_autocomplete.module
+++ b/apachesolr_autocomplete.module
@@ -64,10 +64,11 @@ function apachesolr_autocomplete_do_alter(&$element) {
       $element['#attributes'] = array();
     }
     if (!isset($element['#attributes']['class'])) {
-      $element['#attributes']['class'] = '';
+      $element['#attributes']['class'] = 'apachesolr-autocomplete unprocessed';
+    }
+    else {
+      $element['#attributes']['class'] .= ' apachesolr-autocomplete unprocessed';
     }
-
-    $element['#attributes']['class'] .= ' apachesolr-autocomplete unprocessed';
   }
   else {
     $element['#autocomplete_path'] = 'apachesolr_autocomplete';