diff --git a/src/core/chuck_scan.cpp b/src/core/chuck_scan.cpp
index 63b9001b9..37dff0e6a 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_scan.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_scan.cpp
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_cast_valid( Chuck_Env * env, t_CKTYPE to, t_CKTYPE fr
 t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_code_segment( Chuck_Env * env, a_Stmt_Code stmt, t_CKBOOL push = TRUE );
 t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_func_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Func_Def func_def );
 t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_class_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Class_Def class_def );
-t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_func_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Func_Def func_def );
-t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_class_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Class_Def class_def );
 
 
 
@@ -2642,6 +2640,56 @@ t_CKBOOL type_engine_scan2_class_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Class_Def class_def )
     env->curr = env->nspc_stack.back();
     env->nspc_stack.pop_back();
 
+    // the parent class | 1.5.1.4 (ge) moved from chuck_type module for earlier info
+    t_CKTYPE t_parent = NULL;
+
+    // make sure inheritance
+    // TODO: sort!
+    if( class_def->ext )
+    {
+        // if extend
+        if( class_def->ext->extend_id )
+        {
+            // find the type
+            t_parent = type_engine_find_type( env, class_def->ext->extend_id );
+            if( !t_parent )
+            {
+                EM_error2( class_def->ext->extend_id->where,
+                    "undefined super class '%s' in definition of class '%s'",
+                    type_path(class_def->ext->extend_id), S_name(class_def->name->xid) );
+                return FALSE;
+            }
+
+            // must not be primitive
+            if( isprim( env, t_parent ) )
+            {
+                EM_error2( class_def->ext->extend_id->where,
+                    "cannot extend primitive type '%s'",
+                    t_parent->c_name() );
+                EM_error2( 0, "...(primitive types: 'int', 'float', 'time', 'dur', etc.)" );
+                return FALSE;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // TODO: interface
+    }
+
+    // by default object
+    if( !t_parent ) t_parent = env->ckt_object;
+
+    // check for fun
+    assert( env->context != NULL );
+    assert( class_def->type != NULL );
+    assert( class_def->type->info != NULL );
+
+    // retrieve the new type (created in scan_class_def)
+    the_class = class_def->type;
+
+    // set fields not set in scan
+    the_class->parent = t_parent; CK_SAFE_ADD_REF(t_parent);
+    // inherit ugen_info data from parent PLD
+    the_class->ugen_info = t_parent->ugen_info; CK_SAFE_ADD_REF(t_parent->ugen_info);
+
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_type.cpp b/src/core/chuck_type.cpp
index 85e6fee07..87acb08f2 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_type.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_type.cpp
@@ -4705,75 +4705,32 @@ t_CKTYPE type_engine_check_exp_array( Chuck_Env * env, a_Exp_Array array )
 t_CKBOOL type_engine_check_class_def( Chuck_Env * env, a_Class_Def class_def )
 {
     // make new type for class def
-    t_CKTYPE the_class = NULL;
-    // the parent class
-    t_CKTYPE t_parent = NULL;
+    t_CKTYPE the_class = class_def->type;
     // the return type
     t_CKBOOL ret = TRUE;
     // the class body
     a_Class_Body body = class_def->body;
 
-    // make sure inheritance
-    // TODO: sort!
-    if( class_def->ext )
+    // check if parent class definition is complete or not
+    // NOTE this could potentially be remove if class defs can be processed
+    // out of order they appear in file; potentially a relationship tree?
+    if( the_class->parent->is_complete == FALSE )
     {
-        // if extend
-        if( class_def->ext->extend_id )
-        {
-            // find the type
-            t_parent = type_engine_find_type( env, class_def->ext->extend_id );
-            if( !t_parent )
-            {
-                EM_error2( class_def->ext->extend_id->where,
-                    "undefined super class '%s' in definition of class '%s'",
-                    type_path(class_def->ext->extend_id), S_name(class_def->name->xid) );
-                return FALSE;
-            }
-
-            // must not be primitive
-            if( isprim( env, t_parent ) )
-            {
-                EM_error2( class_def->ext->extend_id->where,
-                    "cannot extend primitive type '%s'",
-                    t_parent->c_name() );
-                EM_error2( 0, "...(primitive types: 'int', 'float', 'time', 'dur', etc.)" );
-                return FALSE;
-            }
-
-            // if not complete
-            if( t_parent->is_complete == FALSE )
-            {
-                EM_error2( class_def->ext->where,
-                    "cannot extend incomplete type '%s'",
-                    t_parent->c_name() );
-                EM_error2( class_def->ext->where,
-                    "...(note: the parent's declaration must precede child's)" );
-                return FALSE;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // TODO: interface
+        EM_error2( class_def->ext->where,
+            "cannot extend incomplete type '%s'",
+            the_class->parent->c_name() );
+        EM_error2( class_def->ext->where,
+            "...(note: the parent's declaration must precede child's)" );
+        // done
+        return FALSE;
     }
 
-    // by default object
-    if( !t_parent ) t_parent = env->ckt_object;
-
-    // check for fun
-    assert( env->context != NULL );
-    assert( class_def->type != NULL );
-    assert( class_def->type->info != NULL );
-
-    // retrieve the new type (created in scan_class_def)
-    the_class = class_def->type;
-
-    // set fields not set in scan
-    the_class->parent = t_parent;
-    // inherit ugen_info data from parent PLD
-    the_class->ugen_info = t_parent->ugen_info;
+    // NB the following should be done AFTER the parent is completely defined
+    // --
     // set the beginning of data segment to after the parent
-    the_class->info->offset = t_parent->obj_size;
+    the_class->info->offset = the_class->parent->obj_size;
     // duplicate the parent's virtual table
-    the_class->info->obj_v_table = t_parent->info->obj_v_table;
+    the_class->info->obj_v_table = the_class->parent->info->obj_v_table;
 
     // set the new type as current
     env->nspc_stack.push_back( env->curr );
diff --git a/src/test/01-Basic/215-use-before-extend.ck b/src/test/01-Basic/215-use-before-extend.ck
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d61e9e138
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/01-Basic/215-use-before-extend.ck
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// this verifies that inheritance parent type is recognized if
+// use before the class definition in file
+// https://github.com/ccrma/chuck/issues/375
+
+// instance of our event
+TheEvent e;
+
+// spork a shred to broadcast later
+spork ~ timer( 1::samp );
+
+// verify e can be recognized as child of Event,
+// before TheEvent definition
+e => now;
+
+// if we got here, then done
+<<< "success" >>>;
+
+// custom Event class
+class TheEvent extends Event { }
+
+// a function to wait a bit and broadcast
+fun void timer( dur T )
+{
+    T => now;
+    e.broadcast();
+}
diff --git a/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.ck b/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.ck
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc65fa708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.ck
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// error case: out of order class definitions; Y extends X, but
+// Y is defined ahead of X; certain definitions can appear after
+// usage or invocation, but for now this is not permitted
+
+
+// define Y
+class Y extends X
+{
+    public void foo() { }
+}
+
+// define X
+class X
+{
+    public void foo() { }
+    int y;
+    dur z;
+}
+
+// instantiate a X
+X x;
+
+// instantiate a Y
+Y y;
+
+// shouldn't get here...
+<<<"shouldn't get here...">>>;
diff --git a/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.txt b/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c3a887d2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/06-Errors/error-class-def-order.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+error-class-def-order.ck:7:9: error: cannot extend incomplete type 'X'
+[7] class Y extends X
+            ^
+error-class-def-order.ck:7:9: error: ...(note: the parent's declaration must precede child's)
+[7] class Y extends X
+            ^