diff --git a/matlab/evaluate_steady_state_file.m b/matlab/evaluate_steady_state_file.m
index 14ef63a93023370df81300e629f6dbc86292f00e..06760e9ec3da09ec195a99f20b20a0ee8fec3687 100644
--- a/matlab/evaluate_steady_state_file.m
+++ b/matlab/evaluate_steady_state_file.m
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ end
 
 if updated_params_flag && ~isreal(params1)
     info(1) = 23;
-    info(2) = sum(imag(params).^2,'omitnan');
+    if ~isoctave
+        info(2) = sum(imag(params).^2,'omitnan');
+    else
+        info(2) = nansum(imag(params).^2);
+    end
     if M_.set_auxiliary_variables
         ys = h_set_auxiliary_variables(ys,exo_ss,params);
     end
@@ -114,4 +118,4 @@ if steady_state_checkflag
         info(1) = 22;
         return
     end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end