diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Page/Block/Html.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Page/Block/Html.php
index 4975e65cda8..6a718f217c1 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Page/Block/Html.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Page/Block/Html.php
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ public function getHeaderTitle()
     public function addBodyClass($className)
     {
         $className = preg_replace('#[^a-z0-9]+#', '-', strtolower($className));
-        $this->setBodyClass($this->getBodyClass() . ' ' . $className);
+        $class = $this->getBodyClass() ? $this->getBodyClass() . ' ' . $className : $className;
+        $this->setBodyClass($class);
         return $this;
     }