diff --git a/matlab/optimization/newrat.m b/matlab/optimization/newrat.m
index 218d27f91..2fa65ed49 100644
--- a/matlab/optimization/newrat.m
+++ b/matlab/optimization/newrat.m
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ fval=fval0;
 
 outer_product_gradient=1;
 if isempty(hh)
+    mr_hessian(1,x,[],[],[],[],varargin{:});
     [dum, gg, htol0, igg, hhg, h1]=mr_hessian(0,x,func0,penalty,flagit,htol,varargin{:});
     if isempty(dum),
         outer_product_gradient=0;