diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/pdom/db/ShortString.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/pdom/db/ShortString.java
index ce3f236b97b..40c4f3a2fb9 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/pdom/db/ShortString.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/pdom/db/ShortString.java
@@ -442,4 +442,12 @@ public class ShortString implements IString {
 	}
 */
 
+	@Override
+	public String toString() {
+		try {
+			return getString();
+		} catch (CoreException e) {
+			return super.toString();
+		}
+	}
 }