diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Core/Role/Role.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Core/Role/Role.php
index 5b50981fe1a78..67d2734e0bd2b 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Core/Role/Role.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Core/Role/Role.php
@@ -38,4 +38,14 @@ public function getRole()
     {
         return $this->role;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns a string representation of the role
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function __toString()
+    {
+        return $this->role;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Tests/Core/Role/RoleTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Tests/Core/Role/RoleTest.php
index e2e7ca86b637f..73ada996a31c3 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Tests/Core/Role/RoleTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Security/Tests/Core/Role/RoleTest.php
@@ -21,4 +21,20 @@ public function testGetRole()
 
         $this->assertEquals('FOO', $role->getRole());
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider getToStringFixtures
+     */
+    public function testToString($role, $expected)
+    {
+        $this->assertEquals($role, $expected);
+    }
+
+    public function getToStringFixtures()
+    {
+        return array(
+            array(new Role(null), ''),
+            array(new Role('FOO'), 'FOO')
+        );
+    }
 }