diff --git a/include/sockpp/inet6_address.h b/include/sockpp/inet6_address.h
index 27e0201..bd73121 100644
--- a/include/sockpp/inet6_address.h
+++ b/include/sockpp/inet6_address.h
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class inet6_address : public sock_address
 	 * @return A string representation of the address in the form 
 	 *  	   '[address]:port'
 	 */
-	std::string to_string() const;
+	std::string to_string() const override;
 };
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/sockpp/inet_address.h b/include/sockpp/inet_address.h
index 602f665..ec2d76e 100644
--- a/include/sockpp/inet_address.h
+++ b/include/sockpp/inet_address.h
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ class inet_address : public sock_address
 	 * @return A string representation of the address in the form 
 	 *  	   'address:port'
 	 */
-	std::string to_string() const;
+	std::string to_string() const override;
 };
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/sockpp/sock_address.h b/include/sockpp/sock_address.h
index 863a8ba..92569ea 100644
--- a/include/sockpp/sock_address.h
+++ b/include/sockpp/sock_address.h
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ class sock_address
 		auto p = sockaddr_ptr();
 		return p ? p->sa_family : AF_UNSPEC;
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Gets a printable string for the address.
+	 * @return A string representation of the address
+	 */
+	virtual std::string to_string() const {
+		return std::string();
+	}
 };
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/include/sockpp/unix_address.h b/include/sockpp/unix_address.h
index 30e8de7..c36425e 100644
--- a/include/sockpp/unix_address.h
+++ b/include/sockpp/unix_address.h
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class unix_address : public sock_address
 	 * @return A string representation of the address in the form
 	 *  	   "unix:<path>"
 	 */
-	std::string to_string() const {
+	std::string to_string() const override {
 		return std::string("unix:") + std::string(addr_.sun_path);
 	}
 };