diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
index 94c239e..bbf4e79 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class StringTree: # export
         r = self.get(path)
         if r is None:
             raise KeyError(path)
-        return r
+        return r.value()
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         return self.__set(key, value)