diff --git a/matlab/gensylv/sylvester3.m b/matlab/gensylv/sylvester3.m
index 57d9b0bc7..f50b9bae2 100644
--- a/matlab/gensylv/sylvester3.m
+++ b/matlab/gensylv/sylvester3.m
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ end
 if exist('OCTAVE_VERSION')
     [aa,bb,qq,zz]=qz(full(a),full(b));
     for j=1:p,
-        d(:,:,j)=qq*d(:,:,j)*u;
+        if octave_ver_less_than('3.4.0')
+            d(:,:,j)=qq'*d(:,:,j)*u;
+        else
+            d(:,:,j)=qq*d(:,:,j)*u;
+        end
     end
 else
     [aa,bb,qq,zz]=qz(full(a),full(b),'real'); % available in Matlab version 6.0