diff --git a/src/pynwb/core.py b/src/pynwb/core.py
index 128628da9..f7ec23726 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/core.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/core.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from .form import Container, Data, DataRegion, get_region_slicer
 
 from . import CORE_NAMESPACE, register_class
-from six import with_metaclass, iteritems
+from six import with_metaclass
 
 
 def _not_parent(arg):
@@ -145,17 +145,19 @@ def __gather_nwbfields(cls, name, bases, classdict):
         cls.__nwbfields__ = tuple(new_nwbfields)
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        template = "{} {}\nFields:\n""".format(getattr(self, 'name'), type(self))
-        for k, v in iteritems(self.fields):
-            template += "  {}: {} \n".format(k, self.__smart_str(v))
+        template = "\n{} {}\nFields:\n""".format(getattr(self, 'name'), type(self))
+        for k in sorted(self.fields):  # sorted to enable tests
+            v = self.fields[k]
+            template += "  {}: {}\n".format(k, self.__smart_str(v))
         return template
 
-    def __smart_str(self, v):
+    @staticmethod
+    def __smart_str(v):
         """
         Print compact string representation of data.
 
-        If v is a list, print it using numpy. This will condense the string
-        representation of datasets with many elements.
+        If v is a list, try to print it using numpy. This will condense the string
+        representation of datasets with many elements. If that doesn't work, just print the list.
 
         If v is a dictionary, print the name and type of each element
 
@@ -172,10 +174,13 @@ def __smart_str(self, v):
 
         """
         if isinstance(v, list):
-            return str(np.array(v))
+            try:
+                return str(np.array(v))
+            except ValueError:
+                return str(v)
         elif isinstance(v, dict):
             template = '{'
-            keys = list(v.keys())
+            keys = list(sorted(v.keys()))
             for k in keys[:-1]:
                 template += " {} {}, ".format(k, type(v[k]))
             if keys:
diff --git a/tests/integration/ui_write/base.py b/tests/integration/ui_write/base.py
index d25c67dd0..2fa7f415c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/ui_write/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/ui_write/base.py
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ def roundtripContainer(self):
     def test_roundtrip(self):
         self.read_container = self.roundtripContainer()
         # make sure we get a completely new object
+        str(self.container)  # added as a test to make sure printing works
         self.assertNotEqual(id(self.container), id(self.read_container))
         self.assertContainerEqual(self.container, self.read_container)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/pynwb_tests/test_core.py b/tests/unit/pynwb_tests/test_core.py
index 363928d36..8c42cb76b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/pynwb_tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/unit/pynwb_tests/test_core.py
@@ -281,7 +281,37 @@ def test_print_file(self):
                           identifier='identifier', session_start_time=datetime.now(tzlocal()))
         ts = TimeSeries('name', [1., 2., 3.] * 1000, timestamps=[1, 2, 3])
         ts2 = TimeSeries('name2', [1, 2, 3] * 1000, timestamps=[1, 2, 3])
-        print(ts)
+        self.assertEqual(str(ts), """
+name <class 'pynwb.base.TimeSeries'>
+Fields:
+  comments: no comments
+  conversion: 1.0
+  data: [1. 2. 3. ... 1. 2. 3.]
+  description: no description
+  interval: 1
+  num_samples: 3000
+  resolution: 0.0
+  timestamps: [1 2 3]
+  timestamps_unit: Seconds
+"""
+                         )
         nwbfile.add_acquisition(ts)
         nwbfile.add_acquisition(ts2)
-        print(nwbfile)
+        empty_set_str = str(set())  # changes between py2 and py3
+        self.assertEqual(str(nwbfile),
+                         """
+root <class 'pynwb.file.NWBFile'>
+Fields:
+  acquisition: { name <class 'pynwb.base.TimeSeries'>,  name2 <class 'pynwb.base.TimeSeries'> }
+  analysis: { }
+  devices: { }
+  electrode_groups: { }
+  epoch_tags: """ + empty_set_str + """
+  ic_electrodes: { }
+  imaging_planes: { }
+  modules: { }
+  ogen_sites: { }
+  stimulus: { }
+  stimulus_template: { }
+  time_intervals: { }
+""")