diff --git a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
index 26463f644..bb834fc0b 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
@@ -1227,6 +1227,9 @@ class SimObject(object):
     def path(self):
         if not self._parent:
             return '<orphan %s>' % self.__class__
+        elif isinstance(self._parent, MetaSimObject):
+            return str(self.__class__)
+
         ppath = self._parent.path()
         if ppath == 'root':
             return self._name