diff --git a/matlab/utilities/dataset/makedataset.m b/matlab/utilities/dataset/makedataset.m
index ff5fb96a3df9ca74874e3aea2f1592f26b99917d..7e4aedd981268978d0ea6a1ba08863b21d9b394d 100644
--- a/matlab/utilities/dataset/makedataset.m
+++ b/matlab/utilities/dataset/makedataset.m
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ else
     clear('dseriesobjectforuserdataset');
 end
 
+if size(unique(DynareDataset.name),1)~=size(DynareDataset.name,1)
+    error('makedataset: the data set must not contain two variables with the same name and must not contain empty/non-named columns.')
+end
+
 % Select a subset of the variables.
 DynareDataset = DynareDataset{DynareOptions.varobs{:}};