diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
index 49ec87b0c..c713e2fc0 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ namespace session {
   using std::reverse;
   using lib::append_all;
   using util::isSameObject;
+  using util::isnil;
   
   using namespace lumiera;
   
@@ -141,6 +142,26 @@ namespace session {
   const ScopePath ScopePath::INVALID = ScopePath(Scope());
   
   
+  /** ScopePath diagnostic self display.
+   *  Implemented similar to a filesystem path, where the
+   *  path elements are based on the self-display of the MObject
+   *  attached through the respective scope top placement. */
+  ScopePath::operator string()  const
+  {
+    if (isnil (path_)) return "!";
+    if (1 == length()) return "/";
+    
+    string res;
+    vector<Scope>::const_iterator node (path_.begin());
+    while (++node != path_.end())
+      {
+        res += "/";
+        res += string (*node);
+      }
+    return res;
+  }
+  
+  
   /** a \em valid path consists of more than just the root element.
    *  @note contrary to this, an \em empty path doesn't even contain a root element
    */
diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
index d23d286cf..61799d95d 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
 #include "lib/error.hpp"
 
 #include <vector>
+#include <string>
 
 
 namespace lib {
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ namespace session {
       size_t size()     const;
       size_t length()   const;
       size_t ref_count()const;
-                        ////////////////////////////////////////TICKET #429 : diagnostic output to be added later
+      operator string() const;
       
       /// Iteration is always ascending from leaf to root
       typedef _IterType iterator;
diff --git a/tests/43session.tests b/tests/43session.tests
index 32c12d434..5f6f8994b 100644
--- a/tests/43session.tests
+++ b/tests/43session.tests
@@ -190,6 +190,12 @@ END
 
 
 TEST "Path of nested scopes" ScopePath_test <<END
+out: Step\(1\): /\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]/\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]
+out: Step\(2\): /\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]
+out: Step\(3\): /
+out: Step\(4\): /\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]
+out: Step\(5\): /\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]/\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]
+out: Step\(6\): /\[DummyMO\.[0-9]{3}\]
 return: 0
 END
 
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-path-test.cpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-path-test.cpp
index 927349451..156052c9d 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-path-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-path-test.cpp
@@ -29,12 +29,17 @@
 #include "proc/mobject/session/test-scope-invalid.hpp"
 #include "lib/util.hpp"
 
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
 
 
 namespace mobject {
 namespace session {
 namespace test    {
   
+  using std::cout;
+  using std::endl;
+  using std::string;
   using util::isnil;
   using util::isSameObject;
   
@@ -75,7 +80,6 @@ namespace test    {
           check_RefcountProtection (startPlacement);
           navigate (testPath, index);
           clear (testPath, index);
-                                  ////////////////////////////////////////TICKET #429 : verify diagnostic output (to be added later)
         }
       
       
@@ -183,6 +187,7 @@ namespace test    {
           ASSERT (refPath);
           ASSERT (!ScopePath::INVALID);
           ASSERT (isnil (ScopePath::INVALID));
+          ASSERT ("!" == string(ScopePath::INVALID));
           
           ScopePath invalidP (ScopePath::INVALID);
           ASSERT (isnil (invalidP));
@@ -304,11 +309,13 @@ namespace test    {
       void
       navigate (const ScopePath refPath, PPIdx index)
         {
-          ScopePath path (refPath);
+          #define __SHOWPATH(N) cout << "Step("<<N<<"): "<< string(path) << endl;
+          
+          ScopePath path (refPath);               __SHOWPATH(1)
           ASSERT (path == refPath);
           
           Scope leaf = path.getLeaf();
-          Scope parent = path.moveUp();
+          Scope parent = path.moveUp();           __SHOWPATH(2)
           ASSERT (path != refPath);
           ASSERT (refPath.contains (path));
           ASSERT (refPath.endsAt (leaf));
@@ -316,14 +323,14 @@ namespace test    {
           ASSERT (parent == leaf.getParent());
           ASSERT (parent == path.getLeaf());
           
-          Scope root = path.goRoot();
+          Scope root = path.goRoot();             __SHOWPATH(3)
           ASSERT (path != refPath);
           ASSERT (path.endsAt (root));
           ASSERT (refPath.contains (path));
           ASSERT (!path.endsAt (parent));
           ASSERT (!path.endsAt (leaf));
           
-          path.navigate (parent);
+          path.navigate (parent);                 __SHOWPATH(4)
           ASSERT (path.endsAt (parent));
           ASSERT (!path.endsAt (root));
           ASSERT (!path.endsAt (leaf));
@@ -333,7 +340,7 @@ namespace test    {
           Scope newLocation = 
               index->find(      // place newNode as sibling of "leaf"
                   index->insert (newNode, parentRefPoint));
-          path.navigate (newLocation);
+          path.navigate (newLocation);            __SHOWPATH(5)
           Scope sibling = path.getLeaf();
           ASSERT (sibling == newLocation);
           ASSERT (parent == sibling.getParent());
@@ -350,7 +357,7 @@ namespace test    {
           ASSERT (prefix.endsAt (parent));
           ASSERT (!prefix.contains (leaf));
           ASSERT (!prefix.contains (sibling));
-          path.navigate (prefix.getLeaf());
+          path.navigate (prefix.getLeaf());       __SHOWPATH(6)
           ASSERT (path == prefix);
           
           // try to navigate to an unconnected location...