diff --git a/src/core/ptr.h b/src/core/ptr.h
index dd664be86..c612a0211 100644
--- a/src/core/ptr.h
+++ b/src/core/ptr.h
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ T * PeekPointer (const Ptr<T> &p);
 template <typename T>
 T * GetPointer (const Ptr<T> &p);
 
+template <typename T>
+std::ostream &operator << (std::ostream &, const Ptr<T> &p);
+
 
 // allow if (sp == 0)
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
@@ -290,6 +293,13 @@ T * GetPointer (const Ptr<T> &p)
   return p.m_ptr;
 }
 
+template <typename T>
+std::ostream &operator << (std::ostream &os, const Ptr<T> &p)
+{
+  os << PeekPointer (p);
+  return os;
+}
+
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
 bool 
 operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs)