diff --git a/cyberiadamlpp.cpp b/cyberiadamlpp.cpp
index a6e08c3..85485df 100644
--- a/cyberiadamlpp.cpp
+++ b/cyberiadamlpp.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ CyberiadaNode* Element::to_node() const
 	return node;
 }
 
+std::string Element::dump_to_str() const
+{
+	std::ostringstream s;
+	dump(s);
+	return s.str();
+}
+
 std::ostream& Element::dump(std::ostream& os) const
 {
 	String type_str;
diff --git a/cyberiadamlpp.h b/cyberiadamlpp.h
index 711d362..6ee193b 100644
--- a/cyberiadamlpp.h
+++ b/cyberiadamlpp.h
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ namespace Cyberiada {
 		friend std::ostream&   operator<<(std::ostream& os, const Element& e);
 		virtual CyberiadaNode* to_node() const;
 
+		virtual std::string    dump_to_str() const;
+
 	protected:		
 		Element*               find_root();
 		void                   set_type(ElementType t) { type = t; };