diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index c4f8b165..471d3f59 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package torrent
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
 	"container/list"
 	"encoding"
 	"errors"
@@ -234,6 +235,12 @@ func (cn *connection) statusFlags() (ret string) {
 	return
 }
 
+func (cn *connection) String() string {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	cn.WriteStatus(&buf, nil)
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
 func (cn *connection) WriteStatus(w io.Writer, t *torrent) {
 	// \t isn't preserved in <pre> blocks?
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "%+q: %s-%s\n", cn.PeerID, cn.localAddr(), cn.remoteAddr())