diff --git a/api/product.rb b/api/product.rb
index cc3fa323adc0..4d51f07421bb 100644
--- a/api/product.rb
+++ b/api/product.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def api_name
     end
 
     def to_s
+      # relies on the custom to_json definitions
       JSON.pretty_generate(self)
     end
 
diff --git a/api/type.rb b/api/type.rb
index 85b4987457b9..0148d78bd1fa 100644
--- a/api/type.rb
+++ b/api/type.rb
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ def validate
       check_conflicts
     end
 
+    def to_s
+      JSON.pretty_generate(self)
+    end
+
     def to_json(opts = nil)
       # ignore fields that will contain references to parent resources and
       # those which will be added later