diff --git a/py/execnet/testing/test_xspec.py b/py/execnet/testing/test_xspec.py
index 9949a08b4..205cb1c6d 100644
--- a/py/execnet/testing/test_xspec.py
+++ b/py/execnet/testing/test_xspec.py
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@ class TestXSpec:
         for x in ("popen", "popen//python=this"):
             assert XSpec(x)._spec == x
 
-    def test_repr(self):
+    def test_repr_and_string(self):
         for x in ("popen", "popen//python=this"):
             assert repr(XSpec(x)).find("popen") != -1
+            assert str(XSpec(x)) == x
 
     def test_hash_equality(self):
         assert XSpec("popen") == XSpec("popen")
diff --git a/py/execnet/xspec.py b/py/execnet/xspec.py
index 871d160a0..732469b9b 100644
--- a/py/execnet/xspec.py
+++ b/py/execnet/xspec.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ class XSpec:
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<XSpec %r>" %(self._spec,)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self._spec 
 
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self._spec)
diff --git a/py/test/dist/testing/test_nodemanage.py b/py/test/dist/testing/test_nodemanage.py
index dd0a7284c..f8625bac8 100644
--- a/py/test/dist/testing/test_nodemanage.py
+++ b/py/test/dist/testing/test_nodemanage.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class TestNodeManager:
                 pass
         """)
         reprec = testdir.inline_run("-d", "--rsyncdir=%s" % testdir.tmpdir, 
-                "--tx %s" % specssh, testdir.tmpdir)
-        ev = reprec.getfirstnamed("pytest_itemtestreport")
-        assert ev.passed 
+                "--tx", specssh, testdir.tmpdir)
+        rep, = reprec.getreports("pytest_itemtestreport")
+        assert rep.passed