diff --git a/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.cpp b/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.cpp
index d44f7a2a2..f8caf8ce1 100644
--- a/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.cpp
+++ b/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.cpp
@@ -20,9 +20,12 @@
 
 namespace gtsam {
 
-// Output stream operator implementation
+EdgeKey::operator std::string() const {
+  return "{" + std::to_string(i_) + ", " + std::to_string(j_) + "}";
+}
+
 GTSAM_EXPORT std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const EdgeKey& key) {
-  os << "{" << key.i() << ", " << key.j() << "}";
+  os << (std::string)key;
   return os;
 }
 
diff --git a/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.h b/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.h
index 13de55f9e..bf1bf6030 100644
--- a/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.h
+++ b/gtsam/inference/EdgeKey.h
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ class GTSAM_EXPORT EdgeKey {
   /// Constructor
   EdgeKey(std::uint32_t i, std::uint32_t j) : i_(i), j_(j) {}
 
+  EdgeKey(Key key)
+      : i_(static_cast<std::uint32_t>(key >> 32)),
+        j_(static_cast<std::uint32_t>(key)) {}
+
   /// @}
   /// @name API
   /// @{
@@ -50,6 +54,9 @@ class GTSAM_EXPORT EdgeKey {
   /// Retrieve low 32 bits
   inline std::uint32_t j() const { return j_; }
 
+  /** Create a string from the key */
+  operator std::string() const;
+
   /// Output stream operator
   friend GTSAM_EXPORT std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream&, const EdgeKey&);