diff --git a/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m b/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
index 7e5c3483d4ba1c763afb95661eef7b4d3fc488e6..5b79efe9fcc6c7c9a3ce4a7ccd5c6e612819b75e 100644
--- a/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
+++ b/matlab/dynare_estimation_init.m
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ if ~isempty(estim_params_)
     bayestopt_.lb = lb;
     bayestopt_.ub = ub;
 else% If estim_params_ is empty (e.g. when running the smoother on a calibrated model)
+    if ~options_.smoother
+        error('ESTIMATION: the ''estimated_params'' block is mandatory (unless you are running a smoother)')
+    end
     xparam1 = [];
     bayestopt_.lb = [];
     bayestopt_.ub = [];