diff --git a/CNN/cnnsetup.m b/CNN/cnnsetup.m
index d208165..81f8466 100644
--- a/CNN/cnnsetup.m
+++ b/CNN/cnnsetup.m
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function net = cnnsetup(net, x, y)
-    assert(~isOctave() || compare_versions(OCTAVE_VERSION, '3.8.0', '>='), ['Octave 3.8.0 or greater is required for CNNs as there is a bug in convolution in previous versions. See http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?39314. Your version is ' OCTAVE_VERSION]);
+    assert(~isOctave() || compare_versions(OCTAVE_VERSION, '3.8.0', '>='), ['Octave 3.8.0 or greater is required for CNNs as there is a bug in convolution in previous versions. See http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?39314. Your version is ' myOctaveVersion]);
     inputmaps = 1;
     mapsize = size(squeeze(x(:, :, 1)));
 
diff --git a/util/myOctaveVersion.m b/util/myOctaveVersion.m
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f361cec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/myOctaveVersion.m
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+% return OCTAVE_VERSION or 'undefined' as a string
+function result = myOctaveVersion()
+  if isOctave()
+    result = OCTAVE_VERSION;
+  else
+    result = 'undefined';
+end