A stent delivery catheter and method for making the same includes a tubular balloon, an elastic sleeve, and a stent. The balloon is mounted around a catheter shaft, and the stent is crimped onto the balloon. The elastic sleeve is positioned between the balloon and the stent, the sleeve extending beyond the ends of the stent where the ends of the sleeve are fixed to the catheter shaft. Sleeve material is gathered and folded over the ends of the stent to retain the stent snugly against the balloon during delivery.