diff --git a/matlab/utilities/general/isestimation.m b/matlab/utilities/general/isestimation.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf16f35c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/utilities/general/isestimation.m
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+function b = isestimation(option)
+
+% Returns true if we are currently estimating a model.
+
+% Copyright (C) 2017 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+b = false;
+
+if option.mode_compute || option.mh_replic
+    b = true;
+end
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