diff --git a/include/villas/node_type.h b/include/villas/node_type.h
index d0dcdc8d1..2beef8e85 100644
--- a/include/villas/node_type.h
+++ b/include/villas/node_type.h
@@ -157,4 +157,7 @@ int node_type_start(struct node_type *vt, struct super_node *sn);
  */
 int node_type_stop(struct node_type *vt);
 
+/** Return a printable representation of the node-type. */
+char * node_type_name(struct node_type *vt);
+
 /** @} */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/node_type.c b/lib/node_type.c
index b4fb095e4..92a26c851 100644
--- a/lib/node_type.c
+++ b/lib/node_type.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int node_type_start(struct node_type *vt, struct super_node *sn)
 	if (vt->state != STATE_DESTROYED)
 		return 0;
 
-	info("Initializing " YEL("%s") " node type which is used by %zu nodes", plugin_name(vt), list_length(&vt->instances));
+	info("Initializing " YEL("%s") " node type which is used by %zu nodes", node_type_name(vt), list_length(&vt->instances));
 	{ INDENT
 		ret = vt->init ? vt->init(sn) : 0;
 	}
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ int node_type_stop(struct node_type *vt)
 	if (vt->state != STATE_STARTED)
 		return 0;
 
-	info("De-initializing " YEL("%s") " node type", plugin_name(vt));
+	info("De-initializing " YEL("%s") " node type", node_type_name(vt));
 	{ INDENT
 		ret = vt->deinit ? vt->deinit() : 0;
 	}
@@ -64,3 +64,8 @@ int node_type_stop(struct node_type *vt)
 
 	return ret;
 }
+
+char * node_type_name(struct node_type *vt)
+{
+	return plugin_name(vt);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pipe.c b/src/pipe.c
index 074fb5106..97557f527 100644
--- a/src/pipe.c
+++ b/src/pipe.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	ret = node_type_start(node->_vt, &sn);
 	if (ret)
-		error("Failed to intialize node type: %s", node_name(node));
+		error("Failed to intialize node type: %s", node_type_name(node->_vt));
 
 	ret = node_check(node);
 	if (ret)