diff --git a/ft_defaults.m b/ft_defaults.m
index bee2c72f93..417b9373e4 100644
--- a/ft_defaults.m
+++ b/ft_defaults.m
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ function checkMultipleToolbox(toolbox, keyfile)
 function checkIncorrectPath
 p = fileparts(mfilename('fullpath'));
 incorrect = fullfile(p, 'compat', 'incorrect');
-if contains(path, incorrect)
+if ~isempty(strfind(path, incorrect))
   ft_warning('Your path is set up incorrectly. You probably used addpath(genpath(''path_to_fieldtrip'')), this can lead to unexpected behaviour. See http://www.fieldtriptoolbox.org/faq/should_i_add_fieldtrip_with_all_subdirectories_to_my_matlab_path');
 end
 end % function checkIncorrectPath