diff --git a/lib/buffer.js b/lib/buffer.js
index f6eb984cbcc..c6266428d97 100644
--- a/lib/buffer.js
+++ b/lib/buffer.js
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ Buffer.prototype.inspect = function inspect() {
   var str = '';
   var max = exports.INSPECT_MAX_BYTES;
   if (this.length > 0) {
-    str = this.hexSlice(0, max).match(/.{2}/g).join(' ');
+    str = this.toString('hex', 0, max).match(/.{2}/g).join(' ');
     if (this.length > max)
       str += ' ... ';
   }