diff --git a/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/a11y/expectations.js b/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/a11y/expectations.js
index fe4b0e31269b..0ff8c192f451 100644
--- a/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/a11y/expectations.js
+++ b/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/a11y/expectations.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-allowed-attr',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-allowed-attr" role="alert" aria-checked="true">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  ARIA attribute is not allowed: aria-checked="true"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-allowed-attr',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div > div#aria-treeitem-name',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-treeitem-name" role="treeitem">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div > div#aria-treeitem-name',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-command-name',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-command-name" role="button">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-command-name',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-tooltip-name',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-tooltip-name" role="tooltip">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-tooltip-name',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-required-children',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-required-children" role="radiogroup">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Required ARIA child role not present: radio',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-required-children',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div > div#aria-required-parent',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-required-parent" role="option">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Required ARIA parent role not present: listbox',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div > div#aria-required-parent',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div',
                   'snippet': '<div role="foo">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  Role must be one of the valid ARIA roles: foo',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,19,SECTION,0,DIV',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-required-attr" role="checkbox">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-required-attr',
                 },
               },
               {
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div > div#aria-required-parent',
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,23,SECTION,0,DIV,0,DIV',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-required-parent" role="option">',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div > div#aria-required-parent',
                 },
               },
               {
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr',
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,27,SECTION,0,DIV',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-valid-attr" role="checkbox" aria-chked="true">',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr',
                 },
               },
               {
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr-value',
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,29,SECTION,0,DIV',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-valid-attr-value" role="checkbox" aria-checked="0">',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr-value',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr-value',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-valid-attr-value" role="checkbox" aria-checked="0">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  Invalid ARIA attribute value: aria-checked="0"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr-value',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr',
                   'snippet': '<div id="aria-valid-attr" role="checkbox" aria-chked="true">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Invalid ARIA attribute name: aria-chked',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#aria-valid-attr',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > button#button-name',
                   'snippet': '<button id="button-name">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have inner text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute\n  Element\'s default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'button',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > button#button-name',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > dl#definition-list',
                   'snippet': '<dl id="definition-list">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  List element has direct children that are not allowed inside <dt> or <dd> elements',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'dl',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > dl#definition-list',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#dlitem > dd',
                   'snippet': '<dd>',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Description list item does not have a <dl> parent element',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'dd',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#dlitem > dd',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,41,SECTION,0,DIV',
                   'snippet': '<div id="duplicate-id-aria" class="duplicate-id-aria">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Document has multiple elements referenced with ARIA with the same id attribute: duplicate-id-aria',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#duplicate-id-aria',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'path': '2,HTML,1,BODY,43,SECTION,2,INPUT',
                   'snippet': '<input type="checkbox" id="form-field-multiple-labels">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  Multiple label elements is not widely supported in assistive technologies. Ensure the first label contains all necessary information.',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'input',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > input#form-field-multiple-labels',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > iframe#frame-title',
                   'snippet': '<iframe id="frame-title">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element has no title attribute\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element\'s default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'iframe',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > iframe#frame-title',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > img#image-alt',
                   'snippet': '<img id="image-alt" src="./bogus.jpg">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element does not have an alt attribute\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute\n  Element\'s default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'img',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > img#image-alt',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > input#input-image-alt',
                   'snippet': '<input type="image" id="input-image-alt">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element has no alt attribute\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'input',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > input#input-image-alt',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > a#link-name',
                   'snippet': '<a id="link-name" href="google.com">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text\n\nFix any of the following:\n  Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'a',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > a#link-name',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > ul#list',
                   'snippet': '<ul id="list">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix all of the following:\n  List element has direct children that are not allowed inside <li> elements',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'ul',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > ul#list',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > li#listitem',
                   'snippet': '<li id="listitem">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  List item does not have a <ul>, <ol> parent element',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'li',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > li#listitem',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'head > meta',
                   'snippet': '<meta name="viewport" content="user-scalable=no, maximum-scale=1.0">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  user-scalable=no on <meta> tag disables zooming on mobile devices',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'meta',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'head > meta',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > object#object-alt',
                   'snippet': '<object id="object-alt">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty\n  aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty\n  Element has no title attribute\n  Element\'s default semantics were not overridden with role="none" or role="presentation"',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'object',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > object#object-alt',
                 },
               },
             ],
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ const expectations = [
                   'selector': 'body > section > div#tabindex',
                   'snippet': '<div id="tabindex" tabindex="10">',
                   'explanation': 'Fix any of the following:\n  Element has a tabindex greater than 0',
-                  'nodeLabel': 'div',
+                  'nodeLabel': 'body > section > div#tabindex',
                 },
               },
             ],
diff --git a/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/perf/expectations.js b/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/perf/expectations.js
index 80b611ba8014..3f7ef5df3d25 100644
--- a/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/perf/expectations.js
+++ b/lighthouse-cli/test/smokehouse/test-definitions/perf/expectations.js
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ module.exports = [
         {
           traceEventType: 'largest-contentful-paint',
           node: {
-            nodeLabel: 'img',
+            nodeLabel: 'section > img',
             snippet: '<img src="../dobetterweb/lighthouse-480x318.jpg">',
             boundingRect: {
               top: 108,
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ module.exports = [
               {
                 node: {
                   type: 'node',
-                  nodeLabel: 'img',
+                  nodeLabel: 'section > img',
                   path: '0,HTML,1,BODY,1,DIV,a,#document-fragment,0,SECTION,0,IMG',
                 },
               },
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/lib/page-functions.js b/lighthouse-core/lib/page-functions.js
index c938752ae009..5be0572136f2 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/lib/page-functions.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/lib/page-functions.js
@@ -378,9 +378,9 @@ function isPositionFixed(element) {
 /**
  * Generate a human-readable label for the given element, based on end-user facing
  * strings like the innerText or alt attribute.
- * Falls back to the tagName if no useful label is found.
+ * Returns label string or null if no useful label is found.
  * @param {Element} element
- * @return {string}
+ * @return {string | null}
  */
 function getNodeLabel(element) {
   // Inline so that audits that import getNodeLabel don't
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ function getNodeLabel(element) {
       }
     }
   }
-  return tagName;
+  return null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -482,6 +482,7 @@ function getNodeDetails(element) {
   }
 
   element = element instanceof ShadowRoot ? element.host : element;
+  const selector = getNodeSelector(element);
 
   // Create an id that will be unique across all execution contexts.
   // The id could be any arbitrary string, the exact value is not important.
@@ -505,10 +506,10 @@ function getNodeDetails(element) {
   const details = {
     lhId,
     devtoolsNodePath: getNodePath(element),
-    selector: getNodeSelector(element),
+    selector: selector,
     boundingRect: getBoundingClientRect(element),
     snippet: getOuterHTMLSnippet(element),
-    nodeLabel: getNodeLabel(element),
+    nodeLabel: getNodeLabel(element) || selector,
   };
 
   return details;
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/lib/page-functions-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/lib/page-functions-test.js
index 6736404b6f87..4ee60be44597 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/lib/page-functions-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/lib/page-functions-test.js
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ describe('Page Functions', () => {
     global.ShadowRoot = ShadowRoot;
     global.Node = Node;
     global.HTMLElement = HTMLElement;
+    global.window = {};
     dom = new DOM(document);
   });
 
   afterAll(() => {
     global.ShadowRoot = undefined;
     global.Node = undefined;
+    global.window = undefined;
   });
 
   describe('wrapRuntimeEvalErrorInBrowser()', () => {
@@ -177,16 +179,11 @@ describe('Page Functions', () => {
       assert.equal(pageFunctions.getNodeLabel(el), Array(78).fill('a').join('') + '💡…');
     });
 
-    it('Uses tag name for html tags', () => {
-      const el = dom.createElement('html');
-      assert.equal(pageFunctions.getNodeLabel(el), 'html');
-    });
-
-    it('Uses tag name if there is no better label', () => {
+    it('Returns null if there is no better label', () => {
       const el = dom.createElement('div');
       const childEl = dom.createElement('span');
       el.appendChild(childEl);
-      assert.equal(pageFunctions.getNodeLabel(el), 'div');
+      assert.equal(pageFunctions.getNodeLabel(el), null);
     });
   });
 
@@ -217,4 +214,14 @@ describe('Page Functions', () => {
       assert.equal(pageFunctions.getNodePath(img), '0,MAIN,a,#document-fragment,0,SECTION,0,IMG');
     });
   });
+
+  describe('getNodeDetails', () => {
+    it('Returns selector as fallback if nodeLabel equals html tag name', () => {
+      const el = dom.createElement('div', '', {id: 'parent', class: 'parent-el'});
+      const childEl = dom.createElement('p', '', {id: 'child', class: 'child-el'});
+      el.appendChild(childEl);
+      const {nodeLabel} = pageFunctions.getNodeDetails(el);
+      assert.equal(nodeLabel, 'div#parent');
+    });
+  });
 });