diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
index de2873f..31a2fc3 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
@@ -3005,7 +3005,7 @@
         return self.tk.call(self._w, "image", "names")
     def index(self, index):
         """Return the index in the form line.char for INDEX."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, 'index', index)
+        return str(self.tk.call(self._w, 'index', index))
     def insert(self, index, chars, *args):
         """Insert CHARS before the characters at INDEX. An additional
         tag can be given in ARGS. Additional CHARS and tags can follow in ARGS."""
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b83c731..99e385a 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #4342: Always convert Text.index result to string.
+
 - Issue 3248: Allow placing ScrolledText in a PanedWindow.
 
 - Issue #4084: Fix max, min, max_mag and min_mag Decimal methods to