diff --git a/schema_salad/codegen.py b/schema_salad/codegen.py
index 6ef6e443..f81dc5ca 100644
--- a/schema_salad/codegen.py
+++ b/schema_salad/codegen.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from .typescript_codegen import TypeScriptCodeGen
 from .utils import aslist
 
-FIELD_SORT_ORDER = ["id", "class", "name"]
+FIELD_SORT_ORDER = ["class", "id", "name"]
 
 
 def codegen(
diff --git a/schema_salad/python_codegen.py b/schema_salad/python_codegen.py
index 619c6c4c..d39ee57e 100644
--- a/schema_salad/python_codegen.py
+++ b/schema_salad/python_codegen.py
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ def begin_class(
         idfield: str,
         optional_fields: set[str],
     ) -> None:
+        class_uri = classname
         classname = self.safe_name(classname)
 
         if extends:
@@ -163,6 +164,8 @@ def begin_class(
             self.out.write("    pass\n\n\n")
             return
 
+        self.out.write(f'    class_uri = "{class_uri}"\n\n')
+
         required_field_names = [f for f in field_names if f not in optional_fields]
         optional_field_names = [f for f in field_names if f in optional_fields]
 
@@ -276,27 +279,6 @@ def save(
 """
         )
 
-        if "class" in field_names:
-            self.out.write(
-                """
-        if "class" not in _doc:
-            raise ValidationException("Missing 'class' field")
-        if _doc.get("class") != "{class_}":
-            raise ValidationException("tried `{class_}` but")
-
-""".format(
-                    class_=classname
-                )
-            )
-
-            self.serializer.write(
-                """
-        r["class"] = "{class_}"
-""".format(
-                    class_=classname
-                )
-            )
-
     def end_class(self, classname: str, field_names: list[str]) -> None:
         """Signal that we are done with this class."""
         if self.current_class_is_abstract:
@@ -554,9 +536,6 @@ def declare_field(
         if self.current_class_is_abstract:
             return
 
-        if shortname(name) == "class":
-            return
-
         if optional:
             self.out.write(f"""        {self.safe_name(name)} = None\n""")
             self.out.write(f"""        if "{shortname(name)}" in _doc:\n""")  # noqa: B907
@@ -608,6 +587,17 @@ def declare_field(
                 spc=spc,
             )
         )
+
+        if shortname(name) == "class":
+            self.out.write(
+                """{spc}            if {safename} != cls.__name__ and {safename} != cls.class_uri:
+{spc}               raise ValidationException(f"tried `{{cls.__name__}}` but")
+""".format(
+                    safename=self.safe_name(name),
+                    spc=spc,
+                )
+            )
+
         self.out.write(
             """
 {spc}        except ValidationException as e:
diff --git a/schema_salad/tests/test_codegen_errors.py b/schema_salad/tests/test_codegen_errors.py
index 2a05702e..3e2d1158 100644
--- a/schema_salad/tests/test_codegen_errors.py
+++ b/schema_salad/tests/test_codegen_errors.py
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ def test_error_message5(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
 def test_error_message6(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     t = "test_schema/test6.cwl"
     match = r"""\*\s+tried\s+`CommandLineTool`\s+but
-\s+Missing\s+'class'\s+field
+\s+missing\s+required\s+field\s+`class`
 +\*\s+tried\s+`ExpressionTool`\s+but
-\s+Missing\s+'class'\s+field
+\s+missing\s+required\s+field\s+`class`
 +\*\s+tried\s+`Workflow`\s+but
-\s+Missing\s+'class'\s+field"""
+\s+missing\s+required\s+field\s+`class`"""
     path = get_data("tests/" + t)
     assert path
     with pytest.raises(ValidationException, match=match):