diff --git a/base/HidlSupport.cpp b/base/HidlSupport.cpp
index 91c9717..5a07554 100644
--- a/base/HidlSupport.cpp
+++ b/base/HidlSupport.cpp
@@ -257,8 +257,9 @@
     return std::string(mBuffer, mSize);
 }
 
-hidl_string::operator const char *() const {
-    return mBuffer;
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const hidl_string& str) {
+    os << str.c_str();
+    return os;
 }
 
 void hidl_string::copyFrom(const char *data, size_t size) {
diff --git a/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h b/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
index a8eae8c..0137eed 100644
--- a/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
+++ b/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
@@ -157,9 +157,6 @@
     hidl_string &operator=(hidl_string &&other);
     // cast to std::string.
     operator std::string() const;
-    // cast to C-style string. Caller is responsible
-    // to maintain this hidl_string alive.
-    operator const char *() const;
 
     void clear();
 
@@ -203,6 +200,10 @@
 
 #undef HIDL_STRING_OPERATOR
 
+// Send our content to the output stream
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const hidl_string& str);
+
+
 // hidl_memory is a structure that can be used to transfer
 // pieces of shared memory between processes. The assumption
 // of this object is that the memory remains accessible as
diff --git a/test_main.cpp b/test_main.cpp
index 658a7eb..4be2eb9 100644
--- a/test_main.cpp
+++ b/test_main.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     hidl_string s2("s2"); // copy constructor from cstr
     EXPECT_STREQ(s2.c_str(), "s2");
     hidl_string s2a(nullptr); // copy constructor from null cstr
-    EXPECT_STREQ("", s2a);
+    EXPECT_STREQ("", s2a.c_str());
     s2a = nullptr; // = from nullptr cstr
     EXPECT_STREQ(s2a.c_str(), "");
     hidl_string s3 = hidl_string("s3"); // move =
@@ -72,34 +72,44 @@
     hidl_string s5(hidl_string(hidl_string("s5"))); // move constructor
     EXPECT_STREQ(s5.c_str(), "s5");
     hidl_string s6(std::string("s6")); // copy constructor from std::string
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s6, "s6");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s6.c_str(), "s6");
     hidl_string s7 = std::string("s7"); // copy = from std::string
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s7, "s7");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s7.c_str(), "s7");
     hidl_string s8(s7); // copy constructor
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s8, "s7");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s8.c_str(), "s7");
     hidl_string s9 = s8; // copy =
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s9, "s7");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s9.c_str(), "s7");
     char myCString[20] = "myCString";
     s.setToExternal(&myCString[0], strlen(myCString));
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s, "myCString");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s.c_str(), "myCString");
     myCString[2] = 'D';
-    EXPECT_STREQ(s, "myDString");
+    EXPECT_STREQ(s.c_str(), "myDString");
     s.clear(); // should not affect myCString
     EXPECT_STREQ(myCString, "myDString");
 
     // casts
     s = "great";
     std::string myString = s;
-    const char *anotherCString = s;
+    const char *anotherCString = s.c_str();
     EXPECT_EQ(myString, "great");
     EXPECT_STREQ(anotherCString, "great");
 
     const hidl_string t = "not so great";
     std::string myTString = t;
-    const char * anotherTCString = t;
+    const char * anotherTCString = t.c_str();
     EXPECT_EQ(myTString, "not so great");
     EXPECT_STREQ(anotherTCString, "not so great");
 
+    // Assignment from hidl_string to std::string
+    std::string tgt;
+    hidl_string src("some stuff");
+    tgt = src;
+    EXPECT_STREQ(tgt.c_str(), "some stuff");
+
+    // Stream output operator
+    hidl_string msg("hidl_string works with operator<<");
+    std::cout << msg;
+
     // Comparisons
     const char * cstr1 = "abc";
     std::string string1(cstr1);
diff --git a/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp b/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
index 5ba3ec3..23349c3 100644
--- a/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
+++ b/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                IBase *interface = (*generator)(name);
+                IBase *interface = (*generator)(name.c_str());
 
                 if (interface == nullptr) {
                     dlclose(handle);