diff --git a/matlab/dr1.m b/matlab/dr1.m
index 0c82a77abb545db7a8eababe87ab16bc2a46c650..32b426343fc566a96030899fcc9b74a61750181e 100644
--- a/matlab/dr1.m
+++ b/matlab/dr1.m
@@ -241,6 +241,10 @@ if M_.maximum_endo_lead == 0
     return
 end
 
+if M_.maximum_endo_lag == 0 && options_.order > 1
+    error(['2nd and 3rd order approximation not implemented for purely forward models'])
+end
+
 %forward--looking models
 if nstatic > 0
     [Q,R] = qr(b(:,1:nstatic));