diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/google/bitcoin/core/AlertMessage.java b/core/src/main/java/com/google/bitcoin/core/AlertMessage.java
index 5f5c98b5..bfeb190e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/google/bitcoin/core/AlertMessage.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/google/bitcoin/core/AlertMessage.java
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ public class AlertMessage extends Message {
         super(params, payloadBytes, 0);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return "ALERT: " + getStatusBar();
+    }
+
     @Override
     void parse() throws ProtocolException {
         // Alerts are formatted in two levels. The top level contains two byte arrays: a signature, and a serialized