diff --git a/src/network/model/packet.cc b/src/network/model/packet.cc
index 9815dabc3..80ede2837 100644
--- a/src/network/model/packet.cc
+++ b/src/network/model/packet.cc
@@ -412,6 +412,14 @@ Packet::PrintByteTags (std::ostream &os) const
     }
 }
 
+std::string
+Packet::ToString() const
+{
+  std::ostringstream oss;
+  Print (oss);
+  return oss.str();
+}
+
 void 
 Packet::Print (std::ostream &os) const
 {
diff --git a/src/network/model/packet.h b/src/network/model/packet.h
index 050e36c6f..a6f3bd444 100644
--- a/src/network/model/packet.h
+++ b/src/network/model/packet.h
@@ -453,6 +453,15 @@ public:
    */
   void Print (std::ostream &os) const;
 
+  /**
+   * \brief Return a string representation of the packet
+   *
+   * An empty string is returned if you haven't called EnablePrinting ()
+   *
+   * \return String representation
+   */
+  std::string ToString (void) const;
+
   /**
    * \brief Returns an iterator which points to the first 'item'
    * stored in this buffer.