diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_dataframe/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_dataframe/custom_value.rs
index d70298be63..5d9879a991 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_dataframe/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_dataframe/custom_value.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl CustomValue for NuDataFrame {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_expression/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_expression/custom_value.rs
index 8b54221e82..52fdb7f0f1 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_expression/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_expression/custom_value.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ impl CustomValue for NuExpression {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazyframe/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazyframe/custom_value.rs
index c66f13be23..fc091ada1d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazyframe/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazyframe/custom_value.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ impl CustomValue for NuLazyFrame {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazygroupby/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazygroupby/custom_value.rs
index 3eacaf81a8..cf19d72f34 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazygroupby/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_lazygroupby/custom_value.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ impl CustomValue for NuLazyGroupBy {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_when/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_when/custom_value.rs
index 918c619765..b7ac53b470 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_when/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-dataframe/src/dataframe/values/nu_when/custom_value.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ impl CustomValue for NuWhen {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/describe.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/describe.rs
index 3589c27f8a..b8af0c299e 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/describe.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/describe.rs
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ fn run(
                            if options.no_collect {
                             Value::string("any", head)
                            } else {
-                            describe_value(input.into_value(head), head, engine_state, call, options)?
+                            describe_value(input.into_value(head), head, engine_state, options)?
                            }
                         },
                         "metadata" => metadata_to_value(metadata, head),
@@ -246,10 +246,7 @@ fn run(
                 Value::string("stream", head)
             } else {
                 let value = input.into_value(head);
-                let base_description = match value {
-                    Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val.value_string(),
-                    _ => value.get_type().to_string(),
-                };
+                let base_description = value.get_type().to_string();
 
                 Value::string(format!("{} (stream)", base_description), head)
             }
@@ -257,12 +254,9 @@ fn run(
         _ => {
             let value = input.into_value(head);
             if !options.detailed {
-                match value {
-                    Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => Value::string(val.value_string(), head),
-                    _ => Value::string(value.get_type().to_string(), head),
-                }
+                Value::string(value.get_type().to_string(), head)
             } else {
-                describe_value(value, head, engine_state, call, options)?
+                describe_value(value, head, engine_state, options)?
             }
         }
     };
@@ -286,14 +280,13 @@ fn describe_value(
     value: Value,
     head: nu_protocol::Span,
     engine_state: Option<&EngineState>,
-    call: &Call,
     options: Options,
 ) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
     Ok(match value {
-        Value::CustomValue { val, internal_span } => Value::record(
+        Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => Value::record(
             record!(
                 "type" => Value::string("custom", head),
-                "subtype" => run(engine_state,call, val.to_base_value(internal_span)?.into_pipeline_data(), options)?.into_value(head),
+                "subtype" => Value::string(val.type_name(), head),
             ),
             head,
         ),
@@ -318,7 +311,6 @@ fn describe_value(
                     std::mem::take(v),
                     head,
                     engine_state,
-                    call,
                     options,
                 )?);
             }
@@ -338,7 +330,7 @@ fn describe_value(
                 "length" => Value::int(vals.len() as i64, head),
                 "values" => Value::list(vals.into_iter().map(|v|
                     Ok(compact_primitive_description(
-                        describe_value(v, head, engine_state, call, options)?
+                        describe_value(v, head, engine_state, options)?
                     ))
                 )
                 .collect::<Result<Vec<Value>, ShellError>>()?, head),
@@ -406,7 +398,7 @@ fn describe_value(
             if options.collect_lazyrecords {
                 let collected = val.collect()?;
                 if let Value::Record { mut val, .. } =
-                    describe_value(collected, head, engine_state, call, options)?
+                    describe_value(collected, head, engine_state, options)?
                 {
                     record.push("length", Value::int(val.len() as i64, head));
                     for (_k, v) in val.iter_mut() {
@@ -414,7 +406,6 @@ fn describe_value(
                             std::mem::take(v),
                             head,
                             engine_state,
-                            call,
                             options,
                         )?);
                     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/database/values/sqlite.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/database/values/sqlite.rs
index 6e0e11a38a..63bed04a5c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/database/values/sqlite.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/database/values/sqlite.rs
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ impl CustomValue for SQLiteDatabase {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(cloned), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/explain.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/explain.rs
index 5a128dab61..8ac5bb14a2 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/explain.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/explain.rs
@@ -294,6 +294,11 @@ pub fn debug_string_without_formatting(value: &Value) -> String {
         Value::Error { error, .. } => format!("{error:?}"),
         Value::Binary { val, .. } => format!("{val:?}"),
         Value::CellPath { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
-        Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val.value_string(),
+        // If we fail to collapse the custom value, just print <{type_name}> - failure is not
+        // that critical here
+        Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val
+            .to_base_value(value.span())
+            .map(|val| debug_string_without_formatting(&val))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("<{}>", val.type_name())),
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/inspect.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/inspect.rs
index 56f96a053b..bed894311a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/inspect.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/inspect.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use super::inspect_table;
 use nu_protocol::{
     ast::Call,
     engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack},
-    Category, Example, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type, Value,
+    Category, Example, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Type,
 };
 use terminal_size::{terminal_size, Height, Width};
 
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ impl Command for Inspect {
             });
         }
         let original_input = input_val.clone();
-        let description = match input_val {
-            Value::CustomValue { ref val, .. } => val.value_string(),
-            _ => input_val.get_type().to_string(),
-        };
+        let description = input_val.get_type().to_string();
 
         let (cols, _rows) = match terminal_size() {
             Some((w, h)) => (Width(w.0), Height(h.0)),
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/formats/to/text.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/formats/to/text.rs
index f227c58472..a30729d7c8 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/formats/to/text.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/formats/to/text.rs
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ impl Iterator for ListStreamIterator {
 }
 
 fn local_into_string(value: Value, separator: &str, config: &Config) -> String {
+    let span = value.span();
     match value {
         Value::Bool { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
         Value::Int { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
@@ -148,7 +149,12 @@ fn local_into_string(value: Value, separator: &str, config: &Config) -> String {
         Value::Error { error, .. } => format!("{error:?}"),
         Value::Binary { val, .. } => format!("{val:?}"),
         Value::CellPath { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
-        Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val.value_string(),
+        // If we fail to collapse the custom value, just print <{type_name}> - failure is not
+        // that critical here
+        Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val
+            .to_base_value(span)
+            .map(|val| local_into_string(val, separator, config))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("<{}>", val.type_name())),
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/interface/engine/tests.rs b/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/interface/engine/tests.rs
index 599a135cc9..e3a03896aa 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/interface/engine/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/interface/engine/tests.rs
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ impl CustomValue for CantSerialize {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(self.clone()), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         "CantSerialize".into()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value.rs
index 158806ed97..62537dbad1 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl CustomValue for PluginCustomValue {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(self.clone()), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.name().to_owned()
     }
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ impl PluginCustomValue {
         custom_value: &dyn CustomValue,
         span: Span,
     ) -> Result<PluginCustomValue, ShellError> {
-        let name = custom_value.value_string();
+        let name = custom_value.type_name();
         let notify_on_drop = custom_value.notify_plugin_on_drop();
         bincode::serialize(custom_value)
             .map(|data| PluginCustomValue::new(name, data, notify_on_drop, None))
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ impl PluginCustomValue {
                     } else {
                         // Only PluginCustomValues can be sent
                         Err(ShellError::CustomValueIncorrectForPlugin {
-                            name: val.value_string(),
+                            name: val.type_name(),
                             span,
                             dest_plugin: source.name().to_owned(),
                             src_plugin: None,
diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value/tests.rs b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value/tests.rs
index 39941e1805..8475db77a5 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/plugin_custom_value/tests.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ fn serialize_deserialize() -> Result<(), ShellError> {
     let original_value = TestCustomValue(32);
     let span = Span::test_data();
     let serialized = PluginCustomValue::serialize_from_custom_value(&original_value, span)?;
-    assert_eq!(original_value.value_string(), serialized.name());
+    assert_eq!(original_value.type_name(), serialized.name());
     assert!(serialized.source.is_none());
     let deserialized = serialized.deserialize_to_custom_value(span)?;
     let downcasted = deserialized
diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/test_util.rs b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/test_util.rs
index c12dc78834..53c2f86992 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/test_util.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin/src/protocol/test_util.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ impl CustomValue for TestCustomValue {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(self.clone()), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         "TestCustomValue".into()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/custom_value.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/custom_value.rs
index b7e29e51df..797d4f3045 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/custom_value.rs
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ pub trait CustomValue: fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
 
     //fn category(&self) -> Category;
 
-    /// Define string representation of the custom value
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String;
+    /// The friendly type name to show for the custom value, e.g. in `describe` and in error
+    /// messages. This does not have to be the same as the name of the struct or enum, but
+    /// conventionally often is.
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String;
 
     /// Converts the custom value to a base nushell value.
     ///
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ pub trait CustomValue: fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
     ) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
         let _ = (self_span, index);
         Err(ShellError::IncompatiblePathAccess {
-            type_name: self.value_string(),
+            type_name: self.type_name(),
             span: path_span,
         })
     }
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ pub trait CustomValue: fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
     ) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
         let _ = (self_span, column_name);
         Err(ShellError::IncompatiblePathAccess {
-            type_name: self.value_string(),
+            type_name: self.type_name(),
             span: path_span,
         })
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
index 78d68d309b..24b21b280a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ impl Value {
             Value::Error { .. } => Type::Error,
             Value::Binary { .. } => Type::Binary,
             Value::CellPath { .. } => Type::CellPath,
-            Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => Type::Custom(val.typetag_name().into()),
+            Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => Type::Custom(val.type_name()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -947,7 +947,12 @@ impl Value {
             Value::Error { error, .. } => format!("{error:?}"),
             Value::Binary { val, .. } => format!("{val:?}"),
             Value::CellPath { val, .. } => val.to_string(),
-            Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val.value_string(),
+            // If we fail to collapse the custom value, just print <{type_name}> - failure is not
+            // that critical here
+            Value::CustomValue { val, .. } => val
+                .to_base_value(span)
+                .map(|val| val.to_expanded_string(separator, config))
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("<{}>", val.type_name())),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/cool_custom_value.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/cool_custom_value.rs
index 66203869c4..e2f76cf23d 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/cool_custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/cool_custom_value.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl CustomValue for CoolCustomValue {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(self.clone()), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/drop_check.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/drop_check.rs
index 293fbfe294..cca511dc00 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/drop_check.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/drop_check.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl CustomValue for DropCheckValue {
         self.clone().into_value(span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         "DropCheckValue".into()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/second_custom_value.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/second_custom_value.rs
index 805cacee4c..3c9fc39f34 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/second_custom_value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_custom_values/src/second_custom_value.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ impl CustomValue for SecondCustomValue {
         Value::custom_value(Box::new(self.clone()), span)
     }
 
-    fn value_string(&self) -> String {
+    fn type_name(&self) -> String {
         self.typetag_name().to_string()
     }