diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
index 3e25160..0739ec6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,31 @@ export interface Ref {
     readonly attenuation?: Attenuation;
 }
 
+export class RefImpl implements Ref {
+    readonly relay: Facet;
+    readonly target: Partial<Entity>;
+    readonly attenuation?: Attenuation;
+
+    constructor(relay: Facet, target: Partial<Entity>, attenuation?: Attenuation) {
+        this.relay = relay;
+        this.target = target;
+        this.attenuation = attenuation;
+    }
+
+    toString() {
+        let entityRepr = '' + this.target;
+        if (entityRepr === '[object Object]') {
+            entityRepr = '#' + embeddedId(this.target);
+        }
+        let sig = '';
+        if ('assert' in this.target) sig = sig + 'A';
+        if ('retract' in this.target) sig = sig + 'R';
+        if ('message' in this.target) sig = sig + 'M';
+        if ('sync' in this.target) sig = sig + 'S';
+        return `⌜${this.relay.idChain()}<${sig}>${entityRepr}⌝`;
+    }
+}
+
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 export function isRef(v: any): v is Ref {
@@ -262,7 +287,7 @@ export class Turn {
     }
 
     ref<T extends Partial<Entity>>(e: T): Ref {
-        return { relay: this.activeFacet, target: e };
+        return new RefImpl(this.activeFacet, e);
     }
 
     facet(bootProc: LocalAction): Facet {