diff --git a/matlab/initial_estimation_checks.m b/matlab/initial_estimation_checks.m
index 34755c75a..a13f88ee4 100644
--- a/matlab/initial_estimation_checks.m
+++ b/matlab/initial_estimation_checks.m
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ end
 if info(1) > 0
     if DynareOptions.order>1
         [eigenvalues_] = check(Model,DynareOptions, DynareResults);
-        if any(abs(1-abs(eigenvalues_))<DynareOptions.qz_criterium)
+        if any(abs(1-abs(eigenvalues_))<abs(DynareOptions.qz_criterium-1))
             error('Your model has at least one unit root and you are using a nonlinear filter. Please set nonlinear_filter_initialization=3.')
         end
     else