diff --git a/test/test_logger.h b/test/test_logger.h
index a2d43e43..955ae3c3 100644
--- a/test/test_logger.h
+++ b/test/test_logger.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <optional>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -78,6 +79,15 @@ class test_logger : public ::dwarfs::logger {
 
   std::vector<log_entry> const& get_log() const { return log_; }
 
+  std::string as_string() const {
+    std::ostringstream oss;
+    for (auto const& entry : log_) {
+      oss << level_char(entry.level) << " [" << entry.loc.file_name() << ":"
+          << entry.loc.line() << "] " << entry.output << "\n";
+    }
+    return oss.str();
+  }
+
   bool empty() const { return log_.empty(); }
 
   void clear() { log_.clear(); }