diff --git a/bn256/bn256.go b/bn256/bn256.go
index b081c6a..9c99fcd 100644
--- a/bn256/bn256.go
+++ b/bn256/bn256.go
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ func RandomG1(r io.Reader) (*big.Int, *G1, error) {
 }
 
 func (e *G1) String() string {
+	if e.p == nil {
+		return "bn256.G1" + newCurvePoint(nil).String()
+	}
 	return "bn256.G1" + e.p.String()
 }
 
@@ -178,6 +181,9 @@ func RandomG2(r io.Reader) (*big.Int, *G2, error) {
 }
 
 func (e *G2) String() string {
+	if e.p == nil {
+		return "bn256.G2" + newTwistPoint(nil).String()
+	}
 	return "bn256.G2" + e.p.String()
 }
 
@@ -281,8 +287,11 @@ type GT struct {
 	p *gfP12
 }
 
-func (g *GT) String() string {
-	return "bn256.GT" + g.p.String()
+func (e *GT) String() string {
+	if e.p == nil {
+		return "bn256.GT" + newGFp12(nil).String()
+	}
+	return "bn256.GT" + e.p.String()
 }
 
 // ScalarMult sets e to a*k and then returns e.