diff --git a/artiq/compiler/types.py b/artiq/compiler/types.py
index 73d53db52..04e736d65 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/types.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/types.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ def _map_find(elts):
 
 
 class Type(object):
-    pass
+    def __str__(self):
+        return TypePrinter().name(self)
 
 class TVar(Type):
     """