diff --git a/galois/_poly_conversion.py b/galois/_poly_conversion.py
index 9caef7868..692b1d28e 100644
--- a/galois/_poly_conversion.py
+++ b/galois/_poly_conversion.py
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ def sparse_poly_to_str(degrees: List[int], coeffs: List[int], poly_var: str = "x
         if coeff == 0:
             continue
 
-        # Use () around elements, except the 0-th degree term
         if degree > 1:
             if coeff == 1:
                 c = ""
@@ -116,7 +115,11 @@ def sparse_poly_to_str(degrees: List[int], coeffs: List[int], poly_var: str = "x
                 c = f"{coeff!s}"
             s = f"{c}{poly_var}"
         else:
-            s = f"{coeff!s}"
+            # Use () around 0-degree term only if it has a + separator in it ("poly" display mode)
+            if "+" in str(coeff):
+                s = f"({coeff!s})"
+            else:
+                s = f"{coeff!s}"
 
         x.append(s)
 
diff --git a/tests/polys/test_conversions.py b/tests/polys/test_conversions.py
index 58cf02f05..cc39e7f21 100644
--- a/tests/polys/test_conversions.py
+++ b/tests/polys/test_conversions.py
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ def test_sparse_poly_to_str():
     GF = galois.GF(2**8)
     with GF.display("poly"):
         assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([0], GF([0])) == "0"
-        assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([3, 1, 0], GF([1, 2, 3])) == "x^3 + (α)x + α + 1"
+        assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([3, 1, 0], GF([1, 2, 3])) == "x^3 + (α)x + (α + 1)"
 
         assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([0], GF([0]), poly_var="y") == "0"
-        assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([3, 1, 0], GF([1, 2, 3]), poly_var="y") == "y^3 + (α)y + α + 1"
+        assert galois._poly_conversion.sparse_poly_to_str([3, 1, 0], GF([1, 2, 3]), poly_var="y") == "y^3 + (α)y + (α + 1)"
 
 
 def test_str_to_sparse_poly():
diff --git a/tests/polys/test_operations.py b/tests/polys/test_operations.py
index 80ee45e56..541634d71 100644
--- a/tests/polys/test_operations.py
+++ b/tests/polys/test_operations.py
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ def test_str():
         assert str(poly) == "(α^5)x^3 + (α)x + 1"
 
     GF = galois.GF(2**3)
-    poly = galois.Poly([2, 0, 3, 1], field=GF)
-    assert str(poly) == "2x^3 + 3x + 1"
+    poly = galois.Poly([2, 0, 3, 5], field=GF)
+    assert str(poly) == "2x^3 + 3x + 5"
     with GF.display("poly"):
-        assert str(poly) == "(α)x^3 + (α + 1)x + 1"
+        assert str(poly) == "(α)x^3 + (α + 1)x + (α^2 + 1)"
     with GF.display("power"):
-        assert str(poly) == "(α)x^3 + (α^3)x + 1"
+        assert str(poly) == "(α)x^3 + (α^3)x + α^6"
 
 
 def test_int():