diff --git a/matlab/initvalf.m b/matlab/initvalf.m
index 0401b242d046e341aefc1e481696c46c71403265..26c886e45f65cc40153ec73450b4f4b822af7003 100644
--- a/matlab/initvalf.m
+++ b/matlab/initvalf.m
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if isempty(extension)
     end
 end
 
-fullname = [basename extension];
+fullname = [directory '/' basename extension];
 
 if ~exist(fullname, 'file')
     error(['Can''t find datafile: ' fullname ]);