diff --git a/intake/cli.py b/intake/cli.py
index aea1a7a..a1a6d8b 100644
--- a/intake/cli.py
+++ b/intake/cli.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def cmd_action(cmd_args):
     source = LocalSource(data_path, args.source)
     try:
         item = execute_action(source, args.item, args.action, 5)
-        print("Item:", item, file=sys.stderr)
+        print("Item:", item._item, file=sys.stderr)
     except InvalidConfigException as ex:
         print("Could not fetch", args.source, file=sys.stderr)
         print(ex, file=sys.stderr)