diff --git a/lib/class.js b/lib/class.js
index 75075c9..a5ee68e 100644
--- a/lib/class.js
+++ b/lib/class.js
@@ -327,6 +327,12 @@ var extend = ( function( extending )
                 attachInstanceOf( this );
             };
 
+            // provide a more intuitive string representation
+            __self.toString = function()
+            {
+                return '<Class>';
+            };
+
             return __self;
         }
         // abstract class
diff --git a/test/test-class-extend.js b/test/test-class-extend.js
index 3061147..31c9e67 100644
--- a/test/test-class-extend.js
+++ b/test/test-class-extend.js
@@ -224,3 +224,15 @@ assert.ok(
     "Instances of subtypes do not share property references"
 );
 
+
+// otherwise it'll output the internal constructor code, which is especially
+// confusing since the user does not write it
+( function testConvertingClassToStringYieldsClassString()
+{
+    assert.equal(
+        Class.extend( {} ).toString(),
+        '<Class>',
+        "Converting class to string yields class string"
+    );
+} )();
+