diff --git a/matlab/utilities/tests/run_unitary_tests.m b/matlab/utilities/tests/run_unitary_tests.m
index 1a7408ffb..2218ed00e 100644
--- a/matlab/utilities/tests/run_unitary_tests.m
+++ b/matlab/utilities/tests/run_unitary_tests.m
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ for f=1:length(listoffiles)
         info = run_unitary_tests(listoffiles{f});
         report = [report; info];
     else
-        if isequal(listoffiles{f}(end-1:end),'.m') && ~isequal(listoffiles{f}(1:2),'.#')
+        if isequal(listoffiles{f}(end-1:end),'.m') && isempty(strfind(listoffiles{f},'.#'))
             if is_unitary_test_available(listoffiles{f})
                 disp(['***** Process unitary tests in     ' listoffiles{f}])
                 [check, info] = mtest(listoffiles{f});