diff --git a/History.txt b/History.txt
index 063ccb5..8c3d750 100644
--- a/History.txt
+++ b/History.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+== 1.2.1 / 2007-10-21
+
+* To assure existing \footnotes become \sidenotes
+
 == 1.2.0 / 2007-10-20
 
 * Enhancements
diff --git a/tufte-handout.cls b/tufte-handout.cls
index c07854e..5fd7eaf 100644
--- a/tufte-handout.cls
+++ b/tufte-handout.cls
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 \NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}[1994/06/01]
 
-\ProvidesClass{tufte-handout}[2007/10/20 v1.2.0 Tufte-handout class]
+\ProvidesClass{tufte-handout}[2007/10/21 v1.2.1 Tufte-handout class]
 
 %%
 % a4paper option
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@
               \textsuperscript{\thefootnote}%
               \@tufteh@raggedright #2}}
 
+%%
+% Transform existing \footnotes into \sidenotes
+
+\let\footnote\sidenote
+
 %%
 % Sidenote without the footnote mark