diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFileDescription.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFileDescription.java
index 449e944ae0c..61771874540 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFileDescription.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFileDescription.java
@@ -134,4 +134,12 @@ public class CFileDescription extends CDataProxyContainer implements
 		CConfigurationDescription cfg = (CConfigurationDescription)getConfiguration();
 		return cfg.canExclude(getPath(), false, exclude);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * For debugging purpose only
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public String toString() {
+		return getPath().toString();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFolderDescription.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFolderDescription.java
index 70aa13f3814..960bdc4b891 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFolderDescription.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/CFolderDescription.java
@@ -198,4 +198,13 @@ public class CFolderDescription extends CDataProxyContainer implements
 		CConfigurationDescription cfg = (CConfigurationDescription)getConfiguration();
 		return cfg.canExclude(getPath(), true, exclude);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * For debugging purpose only
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public String toString() {
+		String str = getPath().toString();
+		return str.length()==0 ? "/" : str; //$NON-NLS-1$
+	}
 }