diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 4c70a1bbb56..52254840be7 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ Bugs fixed
 * #9697: py domain: An index entry with parens was registered for ``py:method``
   directive with ``:property:`` option
 * #9708: needs_extension failed to check double-digit version correctly
+* Fix bug ``.. code::`` recognising ``:classes:`` option instead of ``:class:``
+  option.  The new behaviour is to only accept the ``:class:`` option.
 
 Testing
 --------
diff --git a/sphinx/directives/patches.py b/sphinx/directives/patches.py
index a7b77c750bb..dd01cb34a81 100644
--- a/sphinx/directives/patches.py
+++ b/sphinx/directives/patches.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from docutils.nodes import Node, make_id, system_message
 from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
 from docutils.parsers.rst.directives import images, tables
+from docutils.parsers.rst.roles import set_classes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.deprecation import RemovedInSphinx60Warning
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ class Code(SphinxDirective):
     def run(self) -> List[Node]:
         self.assert_has_content()
 
+        set_classes(self.options)
         code = '\n'.join(self.content)
         node = nodes.literal_block(code, code,
                                    classes=self.options.get('classes', []),