diff --git a/plugins/layouts/flexible/flexible.inc b/plugins/layouts/flexible/flexible.inc
index 93a7c93..81a4cf7 100644
--- a/plugins/layouts/flexible/flexible.inc
+++ b/plugins/layouts/flexible/flexible.inc
@@ -531,8 +531,9 @@ function panels_flexible_render_item($renderer, $item, $content, $id, $position,
   }
 
   // If we are rendering a column and there is just one column, we don't
-  // need to render the column unless it has a fixed_width.
-  if (empty($renderer->admin) && $item['type'] == 'column' && $max == 0 && $item['width_type'] == '%') {
+  // need to render the column unless it has a fixed_width or a custom class
+  // applied.
+  if (empty($renderer->admin) && $item['type'] == 'column' && $max == 0 && $item['width_type'] == '%' && empty($item['class'])) {
     return $content;
   }