diff --git a/src/handlers.c b/src/handlers.c
index 65fa46a0..06878f5c 100644
--- a/src/handlers.c
+++ b/src/handlers.c
@@ -1092,6 +1092,30 @@ static void handle_focus_in(xcb_focus_in_event_t *event) {
     return;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Handles the WM_CLASS property for assignments and criteria selection.
+ *
+ */
+static bool handle_class_change(void *data, xcb_connection_t *conn, uint8_t state, xcb_window_t window,
+                                xcb_atom_t name, xcb_get_property_reply_t *prop) {
+    Con *con;
+    if ((con = con_by_window_id(window)) == NULL || con->window == NULL)
+        return false;
+
+    if (prop == NULL) {
+        prop = xcb_get_property_reply(conn, xcb_get_property_unchecked(conn,
+                                                                       false, window, XCB_ATOM_WM_CLASS, XCB_ATOM_STRING, 0, 32),
+                                      NULL);
+
+        if (prop == NULL)
+            return false;
+    }
+
+    window_update_class(con->window, prop, false);
+
+    return true;
+}
+
 /* Returns false if the event could not be processed (e.g. the window could not
  * be found), true otherwise */
 typedef bool (*cb_property_handler_t)(void *data, xcb_connection_t *c, uint8_t state, xcb_window_t window, xcb_atom_t atom, xcb_get_property_reply_t *property);
@@ -1109,7 +1133,8 @@ static struct property_handler_t property_handlers[] = {
     {0, UINT_MAX, handle_normal_hints},
     {0, UINT_MAX, handle_clientleader_change},
     {0, UINT_MAX, handle_transient_for},
-    {0, 128, handle_windowrole_change}};
+    {0, 128, handle_windowrole_change},
+    {0, 128, handle_class_change}};
 #define NUM_HANDLERS (sizeof(property_handlers) / sizeof(struct property_handler_t))
 
 /*
@@ -1127,6 +1152,7 @@ void property_handlers_init(void) {
     property_handlers[4].atom = A_WM_CLIENT_LEADER;
     property_handlers[5].atom = XCB_ATOM_WM_TRANSIENT_FOR;
     property_handlers[6].atom = A_WM_WINDOW_ROLE;
+    property_handlers[7].atom = XCB_ATOM_WM_CLASS;
 }
 
 static void property_notify(uint8_t state, xcb_window_t window, xcb_atom_t atom) {
diff --git a/testcases/t/235-wm-class-change-handler.t b/testcases/t/235-wm-class-change-handler.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e6cacded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/235-wm-class-change-handler.t
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+#
+# Please read the following documents before working on tests:
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/testsuite.html
+#   (or docs/testsuite)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/lib-i3test.html
+#   (alternatively: perldoc ./testcases/lib/i3test.pm)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/ipc.html
+#   (or docs/ipc)
+#
+# • http://onyxneon.com/books/modern_perl/modern_perl_a4.pdf
+#   (unless you are already familiar with Perl)
+#
+# Test that changes to WM_CLASS are internally processed by i3 by updating the
+# cached property and running assignments. This allows the property to be used
+# in criteria selection
+# Ticket: #1052
+# Bug still in: 4.8-73-g6bf7f8e
+use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
+use X11::XCB qw(PROP_MODE_REPLACE);
+
+my $config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+for_window [class="Special"] mark special_class_mark
+EOT
+
+my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+sub change_window_class {
+    my ($window, $class) = @_;
+    my $atomname = $x->atom(name => 'WM_CLASS');
+    my $atomtype = $x->atom(name => 'STRING');
+    $x->change_property(
+        PROP_MODE_REPLACE,
+        $window->id,
+        $atomname->id,
+        $atomtype->id,
+        8,
+        length($class) + 1,
+        $class
+    );
+    sync_with_i3;
+}
+
+my $ws = fresh_workspace;
+
+my $win = open_window;
+
+change_window_class($win, "special\0Special");
+
+my $con = @{get_ws_content($ws)}[0];
+
+is($con->{window_properties}->{class}, 'Special',
+    'The container class should be updated when a window changes class');
+
+is($con->{window_properties}->{instance}, 'special',
+    'The container instance should be updated when a window changes instance');
+
+# The mark `special_class_mark` is added in a `for_window` assignment in the
+# config for testing purposes
+is($con->{mark}, 'special_class_mark',
+    'A `for_window` assignment should run for a match when the window changes class');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+done_testing;