diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/util/executable.py b/lib/spack/spack/util/executable.py
index 6eede0f78e2..1dcda0d87f4 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/util/executable.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/util/executable.py
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ def __repr__(self):
         return "<exe: %s>" % self.exe
 
 
+    def __str__(self):
+        return ' '.join(self.exe)
+
+
+
 def which(name, **kwargs):
     """Finds an executable in the path like command-line which."""
     path     = kwargs.get('path', os.environ.get('PATH', '').split(os.pathsep))