diff --git a/doc/manual/source/the-configuration-file.rst b/doc/manual/source/the-configuration-file.rst
index 05ade49cb..3d2383c50 100644
--- a/doc/manual/source/the-configuration-file.rst
+++ b/doc/manual/source/the-configuration-file.rst
@@ -270,7 +270,9 @@ lines starting with a hashtag (#).
     .. option:: MatlabOctavePath = PATH_AND_FILE
 
         The path to the MATLAB or Octave executable. The default value
-        is ``matlab``.
+        is ``matlab`` as MATLAB's executable is typically in the %PATH% environment 
+        variable. When using full paths on Windows, you may need to enclose the path
+        in quoted strings, e.g. ``MatlabOctavePath="C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2023a\bin\matlab.exe"``
 
     .. option:: NumberOfThreadsPerJob = INTEGER
 
@@ -323,7 +325,9 @@ Windows Step-by-Step Guide
 ==========================
 
 This section outlines the steps necessary on most Windows systems to
-set up Dynare for parallel execution.
+set up Dynare for parallel execution. Note that the steps 3 to 6 are 
+required unless parallel execution is confined to a local pool 
+with the ``parallel_use_psexec=false`` option. 
 
     1. Write a configuration file containing the options you want. A
        mimimum working example setting up a cluster consisting of two
diff --git a/matlab/parallel/masterParallel.m b/matlab/parallel/masterParallel.m
index 1455c08cd..e9a7f8070 100644
--- a/matlab/parallel/masterParallel.m
+++ b/matlab/parallel/masterParallel.m
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ if parallel_recover ==0
                             itmp = bitset(itmp,cpus(icpu));
                         end
                         hex_affinity = dec2hex(itmp);
-                        token1 = ['start /B /D "',DyMo, '" /affinity ',hex_affinity,' /LOW  '];
+                        token1 = ['start "" /B /D "',DyMo, '" /affinity ',hex_affinity,' /LOW  '];
                     end
                     if  regexpi([Parallel(indPC).MatlabOctavePath], 'octave')
                         command1=[token1,Parallel(indPC).MatlabOctavePath,' -f --eval "default_save_options(''-v7''); addpath(''',Parallel(indPC).DynarePath,'''), dynareroot = dynare_config(); fParallel(',int2str(offset+1),',',int2str(sum(nBlockPerCPU(1:j))),',',int2str(j),',',int2str(indPC),',''',fname,''')"'];
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ if parallel_recover ==0
 
                 if (~ispc || strcmpi('unix',Parallel(indPC).OperatingSystem)) % Hybrid computing Windows <-> Unix!
                     if ispc
-                        token='start /B ';
+                        token='start "" /B ';
                     else
                         token = '';
                     end
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ if parallel_recover ==0
                             itmp = bitset(itmp,cpus(icpu));
                         end
                         hex_affinity = dec2hex(itmp);
-                        token1 = ['start /B /D "',DyMo, '" /affinity ',hex_affinity,' /LOW  '];
+                        token1 = ['start "" /B /D "',DyMo, '" /affinity ',hex_affinity,' /LOW  '];
                     end
                     if  regexpi([Parallel(indPC).MatlabOctavePath], 'octave')
                         command1=[token1,Parallel(indPC).MatlabOctavePath,' -f --eval "default_save_options(''-v7'');addpath(''',Parallel(indPC).DynarePath,'''), dynareroot = dynare_config(); slaveParallel(',int2str(j),',',int2str(indPC),')"'];
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ if parallel_recover ==0
                     dynareParallelSendFiles(['slaveParallel_input',int2str(j),'.mat'],PRCDir,Parallel(indPC))
                     if (~ispc || strcmpi('unix',Parallel(indPC).OperatingSystem)) % Hybrid computing Windows <-> Unix!
                         if ispc
-                            token='start /B ';
+                            token='start "" /B ';
                         else
                             token = '';
                         end