diff --git a/construct_typed/dataclass_struct.py b/construct_typed/dataclass_struct.py
index 23a00eb..f9f9705 100644
--- a/construct_typed/dataclass_struct.py
+++ b/construct_typed/dataclass_struct.py
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ class DataclassConstruct(Adapter[t.Any, t.Any, T, T]):
         dc_type: t.Type[T],
         reverse: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
-        if not isinstance(dc_type, DataclassStruct):
-            raise TypeError(f"'{repr(dc_type)}' has to be a 'DataclassStruct'")
+        if not issubclass(dc_type, DataclassStruct):
+            raise TypeError(f"'{repr(dc_type)}' has to be a subclass of 'DataclassStruct'")
         if not dataclasses.is_dataclass(dc_type):
             raise TypeError(f"'{repr(dc_type)}' has to be a 'dataclasses.dataclass'")
         self.dc_type = dc_type
diff --git a/tests/test_typed.py b/tests/test_typed.py
index d74e025..b76ff91 100644
--- a/tests/test_typed.py
+++ b/tests/test_typed.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import typing as t
 
 import construct as cs
 import construct_typed as cst
-from construct_typed import DataclassBitStruct, DataclassMixin, DataclassStruct, csfield
+from construct_typed import DataclassBitStruct, DataclassStruct, csfield
 
 from .declarativeunittest import common, raises, setattrs