diff --git a/pisi/xmlfile.py b/pisi/xmlfile.py
index ef902955..d391f295 100644
--- a/pisi/xmlfile.py
+++ b/pisi/xmlfile.py
@@ -76,14 +76,15 @@ Float = types.FloatType
 class LocalText(dict):
     """Handles XML tags with localized text"""
 
-    def __init__(self, tag, spec):
+    def __init__(self, tag = "", req = optional):
         self.tag = tag
-        self.req = spec[1]
+        self.req = req
         dict.__init__(self)
         #self.locs = {}
     
     def decode(self, node, errs, where = ""):
         # flags, tag name, instance attribute
+        assert self.tag != ''
         nodes = getAllNodes(node, self.tag)
         if not nodes:
             if self.req == mandatory:
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ class LocalText(dict):
                 self[lang] = c
 
     def encode(self, xml, node, errs):
+        assert self.tag != ''
         for key in self.iterkeys():
             newnode = newNode(node, self.tag)
             newnode.setAttribute('xml:lang', key)     
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ class LocalText(dict):
             for x in errs:
                 ctx.ui.warning(x)
 
-    def str(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         strfile = StringIO()
         self.print_text(strfile)
         str = strfile.getvalue()
diff --git a/tests/xmlfiletests.py b/tests/xmlfiletests.py
index 03b47cec..7678d939 100644
--- a/tests/xmlfiletests.py
+++ b/tests/xmlfiletests.py
@@ -91,10 +91,11 @@ class LocalTextTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         a = xmlfile.LocalText()
         a['tr'] = u'Zibidi'
         a['en'] = u'ingiliz hiyarlari ne anlar zibididen'
+        self.a = a
 
     def testStr(self):
-        s = str(a)
-        self.assert_(a != None and len(a)>=6)
+        s = str(self.a)
+        self.assert_(s!= None and len(s)>=6)
 
 suite1 = unittest.makeSuite(AutoXmlTestCase)
 suite2 = unittest.makeSuite(LocalTextTestCase)