diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
index 6af11a3ac8..4bcf2caa6d 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ def test_system():
     """
     Construct a test ModuleSystem instance.
 
-    By default, the render_template() method simply returns the context it is
-    passed as a string.  You can override this behavior by monkey patching::
+    By default, the render_template() method simply returns the repr of the
+    context it is passed.  You can override this behavior by monkey patching::
 
         system = test_system()
         system.render_template = my_render_func
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def test_system():
         ajax_url='courses/course_id/modx/a_location',
         track_function=Mock(),
         get_module=Mock(),
-        render_template=lambda template, context: str(context),
+        render_template=lambda template, context: repr(context),
         replace_urls=lambda html: str(html),
         user=Mock(is_staff=False),
         filestore=Mock(),