diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefNPtg.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefNPtg.java
index 715836f8d6..90d43ca945 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefNPtg.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefNPtg.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.ss.formula.ptg;
 
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.CellReference;
 import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianInput;
 
 /**
@@ -33,4 +34,23 @@ public final class RefNPtg extends Ref2DPtgBase {
 	protected byte getSid() {
 		return sid;
 	}
+
+    protected final String formatReferenceAsString() {
+        StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
+
+        // The bits in RefNPtg indicate offset, not relative/absolute values!
+        if(isRowRelative()) {
+            builder.append("RowOffset: ").append(getRow()).append(" ");
+        } else {
+            builder.append(getRow()+1);
+        }
+        
+        if(isColRelative()) {
+            builder.append(" ColOffset: ").append(getColumn());
+        } else {
+            builder.append(CellReference.convertNumToColString(getColumn()));
+        }
+        
+        return builder.toString();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefPtgBase.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefPtgBase.java
index 5ff9a7a3ca..6d63ed5a46 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefPtgBase.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/ptg/RefPtgBase.java
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public abstract class RefPtgBase extends OperandPtg {
 		return column.getValue(field_2_col);
 	}
 
-	protected final String formatReferenceAsString() {
+	protected String formatReferenceAsString() {
 		// Only make cell references as needed. Memory is an issue
 		CellReference cr = new CellReference(getRow(), getColumn(), !isRowRelative(), !isColRelative());
 		return cr.formatAsString();