diff --git a/barcode/writer.py b/barcode/writer.py
index 5b7626a..f50a119 100755
--- a/barcode/writer.py
+++ b/barcode/writer.py
@@ -469,6 +469,11 @@ def _paint_text(self, xpos, ypos):
             barcodetext = self.human if self.human != "" else self.text
             
             assert ImageFont is not None
+
+            # check option to override self.text with self.human (barcode as
+            # human readable data, can be used to print own formats)
+            barcodetext = self.human if self.human != "" else self.text
+
             font_size = int(mm2px(pt2mm(self.font_size), self.dpi))
             if font_size <= 0:
                 return
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 3d1f037..632f990 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tox]
-envlist = {py38,py39,py310,py311}{,-images}
+envlist = py,py-images
 skip_missing_interpreters = True
 
 [testenv]