1 files changed, 7 insertions, 6 deletions
diff --git a/mammoth/html_paths.py b/mammoth/html_paths.py
index c91813a..a8fb952 100644
--- a/mammoth/html_paths.py
+++ b/mammoth/html_paths.py
@@ -7,15 +7,16 @@ def path(elements):
     return HtmlPath(elements)
 
 
-def element(names, class_names=None, fresh=None, separator=None):
+def element(names, attributes=None, class_names=None, fresh=None, separator=None):
+    if attributes is None:
+        attributes = {}
     if class_names is None:
         class_names = []
     if fresh is None:
         fresh = False
     if class_names:
-        attributes = {"class": " ".join(class_names)}
-    else:
-        attributes = {}
+        attributes["class"] = " ".join(class_names)
+
     return HtmlPathElement(html.tag(
         tag_names=names,
         attributes=attributes,
@@ -27,13 +28,13 @@ def element(names, class_names=None, fresh=None, separator=None):
 @cobble.data
 class HtmlPath(object):
     elements = cobble.field()
-    
+
     def wrap(self, generate_nodes):
         nodes = generate_nodes()
 
         for element in reversed(self.elements):
             nodes = element.wrap_nodes(nodes)
-        
+
         return nodes