diff --git a/nats.go b/nats.go
index 14b795d71..cd8aaed3d 100644
--- a/nats.go
+++ b/nats.go
@@ -196,6 +196,26 @@ const (
 	DRAINING_PUBS
 )
 
+func (s Status) String() string {
+	switch s {
+	case DISCONNECTED:
+		return "DISCONNECTED"
+	case CONNECTED:
+		return "CONNECTED"
+	case CLOSED:
+		return "CLOSED"
+	case RECONNECTING:
+		return "RECONNECTING"
+	case CONNECTING:
+		return "CONNECTING"
+	case DRAINING_SUBS:
+		return "DRAINING_SUBS"
+	case DRAINING_PUBS:
+		return "DRAINING_PUBS"
+	}
+	return "unknown status"
+}
+
 // ConnHandler is used for asynchronous events such as
 // disconnected and closed connections.
 type ConnHandler func(*Conn)
diff --git a/test/conn_test.go b/test/conn_test.go
index 115fd814c..0a70083c4 100644
--- a/test/conn_test.go
+++ b/test/conn_test.go
@@ -49,14 +49,15 @@ func TestConnectionStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	nc := NewDefaultConnection(t)
 	defer nc.Close()
 
-	if nc.Status() != nats.CONNECTED {
+	if nc.Status() != nats.CONNECTED || nc.Status().String() != "CONNECTED" {
 		t.Fatal("Should have status set to CONNECTED")
 	}
+
 	if !nc.IsConnected() {
 		t.Fatal("Should have status set to CONNECTED")
 	}
 	nc.Close()
-	if nc.Status() != nats.CLOSED {
+	if nc.Status() != nats.CLOSED || nc.Status().String() != "CLOSED" {
 		t.Fatal("Should have status set to CLOSED")
 	}
 	if !nc.IsClosed() {