diff --git a/matlab/evaluate_planner_objective.m b/matlab/evaluate_planner_objective.m
index bdd57d06c..40f186590 100644
--- a/matlab/evaluate_planner_objective.m
+++ b/matlab/evaluate_planner_objective.m
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ if nspred > 180
     disp(' ')
     disp(['WARNING in evaluate_planner_objective: model too large, can''t evaluate planner ' ...
           'objective'])
-    return NaN
+    planner_objective_value = NaN;
+    return
 end
 beta = get_optimal_policy_discount_factor(M.params,M.param_names);