diff --git a/core/commands/ls.go b/core/commands/ls.go
index 566e0ad0135b..dba8e5afa676 100644
--- a/core/commands/ls.go
+++ b/core/commands/ls.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import (
 type LsLink struct {
 	Name, Hash string
 	Size       uint64
-	Type       unixfspb.Data_DataType
+	Type       string
 }
 
 type LsObject struct {
@@ -48,6 +48,15 @@ the following format:
   <link base58 hash> <link size in bytes> <link name>
 
 The JSON output contains type information.
+The path can be a prefixless ref; in this case, we assume it to be an
+/ipfs ref and not /ipns.
+
+Example:
+
+    > ipfs file ls QmW2WQi7j6c7UgJTarActp7tDNikE4B2qXtFCfLPdsgaTQ
+    cat.jpg
+    > ipfs file ls /ipfs/QmW2WQi7j6c7UgJTarActp7tDNikE4B2qXtFCfLPdsgaTQ
+    cat.jpg
 `,
 	},
 
@@ -162,7 +171,7 @@ The JSON output contains type information.
 					Name: link.Name,
 					Hash: link.Cid.String(),
 					Size: link.Size,
-					Type: t,
+					Type: t.String(),
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -193,7 +202,7 @@ The JSON output contains type information.
 					fmt.Fprintln(w, "Hash\tSize\tName")
 				}
 				for _, link := range object.Links {
-					if link.Type == unixfspb.Data_Directory {
+					if link.Type == unixfspb.Data_Directory.String() {
 						link.Name += "/"
 					}
 					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%v\t%s\n", link.Hash, link.Size, link.Name)