diff --git a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd.mod b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd.mod
index 7302199ee..e41fdc9ad 100644
--- a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd.mod
+++ b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd.mod
@@ -54,6 +54,4 @@ shocks;
     var e_n = 0.001;
 end;
 
-initialconditions = dseries([1 1.02 1 1.02 1], 2000Q1, {'Efficiency'; 'EfficiencyGrowth'; 'Population'; 'PopulationGrowth'; 'PhysicalCapitalStock'});
-
-simulations = simul_backward_model(initialconditions, 5000);
+simulations = simul_backward_model([], 5000);
diff --git a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd_with_steadystate.mod b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd_with_steadystate.mod
index 906bd8d46..96296313b 100644
--- a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd_with_steadystate.mod
+++ b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_cd_with_steadystate.mod
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@ end;
 
 d = dseries([.5 1 1 1.04 15], 2000Q1, {'Efficiency'; 'EfficiencyGrowth'; 'Population'; 'PopulationGrowth'; 'PhysicalCapitalStock'});
 
+histval;
+    Efficiency(0) = .5;
+    EfficiencyGrowth(0) = 1;
+    Population(0) = 1;
+    PopulationGrowth(0) = 1.04;
+    PhysicalCapitalStock(0) = 15;
+end;
+
 LongRunEfficiency = d.Efficiency*d.EfficiencyGrowth^(rho_x/(1-rho_x));
 LongRunPopulation = d.Population*d.PopulationGrowth^(rho_n/(1-rho_n));
 LongRunEfficiencyGrowth = EfficiencyGrowth_ss; 
@@ -46,18 +54,18 @@ T = 5*floor(log(precision)/log(max(rho_x, rho_n)));
 
 e = dseries(zeros(T, 2), 2000Q2, {'e_x'; 'e_n'});
 
-simulations = simul_backward_model(d, T, e);
+simulations = simul_backward_model([], T, e);
 
 if abs(simulations.Efficiency.data(end)-LongRunEfficiency.data)>1e-10
-   error('Wrong long run level!')
+   error('Wrong long run level (Efficiency, diff=%s)!', num2str(abs(simulations.Efficiency.data(end)-LongRunEfficiency.data)))
 end
 
 if abs(simulations.Population.data(end)-LongRunPopulation.data)>1e-10
-   error('Wrong long run level!')
+   error('Wrong long run level (Population, diff=%s)!', num2str(abs(simulations.Population.data(end)-LongRunPopulation.data)))
 end
 
 IntensiveCapitalStock = simulations.PhysicalCapitalStock/(simulations.Efficiency*simulations.Population);
 
 if abs(IntensiveCapitalStock.data(end)-LongRunIntensiveCapitalStock)>1e-3
-    error('Wrong long run level!')
+    error('Wrong long run level (Intensive capital stock)!')
 end
diff --git a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_ces.mod b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_ces.mod
index 71d90717f..01116cc73 100644
--- a/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_ces.mod
+++ b/tests/stochastic-backward-models/solow_ces.mod
@@ -35,11 +35,17 @@ model;
     PhysicalCapitalStock = (1-delta)*PhysicalCapitalStock(-1) + s*Output;
 end;
 
-d = dseries([1 1.02 1 1.02 1], 2000Q1, {'Efficiency'; 'EfficiencyGrowth'; 'Population'; 'PopulationGrowth'; 'PhysicalCapitalStock'});
+histval;
+    Efficiency(0) = 1;
+    EfficiencyGrowth(0) = 1.02;
+    Population(0) = 1;
+    PopulationGrowth(0) = 1.02;
+    PhysicalCapitalStock(0) = 1;
+end;
 
 shocks;
     var e_x = 0.005;
     var e_n = 0.001;
 end;
 
-simulations = simul_backward_model(d, 5000);
\ No newline at end of file
+simulations = simul_backward_model([], 5000);
\ No newline at end of file