diff --git a/src/snakemake_interface_common/io.py b/src/snakemake_interface_common/io.py
index a6d65bb..e8be2fb 100644
--- a/src/snakemake_interface_common/io.py
+++ b/src/snakemake_interface_common/io.py
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
+import sys
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
-from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):
+    from enum import StrEnum
+else:  # e.g. in script envs
+    from enum import Enum
+
+    class StrEnum(str, Enum):
+        def __str__(self) -> str:
+            return str(self.value)
+
 
 class AccessPattern(StrEnum):
     RANDOM = "random"
diff --git a/tests/tests.py b/tests/tests.py
index a6ad793..b17bb84 100644
--- a/tests/tests.py
+++ b/tests/tests.py
@@ -138,3 +138,10 @@ def __init__(self):
     assert settings.required_int == 789
 
     assert settings.optional_int is None
+
+
+def test_access_pattern_str():
+    from snakemake_interface_common.io import AccessPattern
+
+    assert str(AccessPattern.RANDOM) == "random"
+    assert f"{AccessPattern.MULTI}" == "multi"