diff --git a/src/initialize_dseries_toolbox.m b/src/initialize_dseries_toolbox.m
index 4982ee3a5ff5ea44ad43eaea29f14408d55bc3cf..35b8fd8163a098b74e2f8dfa637959c1796b3a8e 100644
--- a/src/initialize_dseries_toolbox.m
+++ b/src/initialize_dseries_toolbox.m
@@ -34,4 +34,8 @@ end
 
 if ~exist('sample_hp_filter','file')
     addpath([dseries_src_root '/utilities/missing/sample_hp_filter'])
+end
+
+if isoctave && ~exist('user_has_octave_forge_package','file')
+    addpath([dseries_src_root '/utilities/missing/user_has_octave_forge_package'])
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utilities/missing/user_has_octave_forge_package/user_has_octave_forge_package.m b/src/utilities/missing/user_has_octave_forge_package/user_has_octave_forge_package.m
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8f7c744af2c9125ea322e0e3ed474dfbcad85cd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utilities/missing/user_has_octave_forge_package/user_has_octave_forge_package.m
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+function [hasPackage] = user_has_octave_forge_package(package)
+% Checks for the availability of a given Octave Forge package
+
+% Copyright (C) 2012 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+[desc,flag] = pkg('describe', package);
+
+hasPackage = isequal(flag{1,1}, 'Loaded');
\ No newline at end of file