diff --git a/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m b/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
index 5b174fbacc5429e513d5e8ed362fae613b19138c..e82e5fbf01494a549d0e71412d02e901d684866c 100644
--- a/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
+++ b/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
@@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ if options_.prefilter == 1
 end
 
 %% Set options related to filtered variables.
-if options_.filtered_vars ~= 0 && isempty(options_.filter_step_ahead), 
+if ~isequal(options_.filtered_vars,0) && isempty(options_.filter_step_ahead) 
     options_.filter_step_ahead = 1;
 end
-if options_.filtered_vars ~= 0 && options_.filter_step_ahead == 0,
+if ~isequal(options_.filtered_vars,0) && isequal(options_.filter_step_ahead,0)
     options_.filter_step_ahead = 1;
 end
-if options_.filter_step_ahead ~= 0
+if ~isequal(options_.filter_step_ahead,0)
     options_.nk = max(options_.filter_step_ahead);
 end