diff --git a/matlab/independent_metropolis_hastings_core.m b/matlab/independent_metropolis_hastings_core.m
index 21bd59f99..aee3276ea 100644
--- a/matlab/independent_metropolis_hastings_core.m
+++ b/matlab/independent_metropolis_hastings_core.m
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ if whoiam
     Parallel=myinputs.Parallel;
     MasterName=myinputs.MasterName;
     DyMo=myinputs.DyMo;
+    % initialize persistent variables in priordens()
+    priordens(xparam1,bayestopt_.pshape,bayestopt_.p6,bayestopt_.p7, ...
+        bayestopt_.p3,bayestopt_.p4,1);
 end
 
 % (re)Set the penalty.
diff --git a/matlab/random_walk_metropolis_hastings_core.m b/matlab/random_walk_metropolis_hastings_core.m
index b16d827d3..cc48bd88e 100644
--- a/matlab/random_walk_metropolis_hastings_core.m
+++ b/matlab/random_walk_metropolis_hastings_core.m
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ if whoiam
  Parallel=myinputs.Parallel;
  MasterName=myinputs.MasterName;
  DyMo=myinputs.DyMo;
+ % initialize persistent variables in priordens()
+ priordens(xparam1,bayestopt_.pshape,bayestopt_.p6,bayestopt_.p7, ...
+     bayestopt_.p3,bayestopt_.p4,1);
 end
 
 % (re)Set the penalty