diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
index 4624f901c8b..5f7d57b4e4a 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
@@ -389,3 +389,11 @@ def test_formatted_strings(self):
             self.assertEqual(v.dotted, '1.2.3')
             self.assertEqual(v.dashed, '1-2-3')
             self.assertEqual(v.underscored, '1_2_3')
+
+    def test_repr_and_str(self):
+        a = Version('1.2.3')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(a), 'Version(\'1.2.3\')')
+        b = eval(repr(a))
+        self.assertEqual(a, b)
+        self.assertEqual(str(a), '1.2.3')
+        self.assertEqual(str(a), str(b))
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/version.py b/lib/spack/spack/version.py
index 858d5814728..6f95e8a2f3c 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/version.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/version.py
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def __getitem__(self, idx):
         return tuple(self.version[idx])
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return self.string
+        return 'Version(' + repr(self.string) + ')'
 
     def __str__(self):
         return self.string