diff --git a/CMake/FindMatlabMex.cmake b/CMake/FindMatlabMex.cmake
index 177924d478..58c0519aaa 100644
--- a/CMake/FindMatlabMex.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindMatlabMex.cmake
@@ -92,14 +92,15 @@ ELSE(WIN32)
   ENDIF(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Darwin")
 ENDIF(WIN32)
 
-IF(NOT "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
+IF(NOT EXISTS "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
   MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "Could not find MATLAB mex compiler; try specifying MATLAB_ROOT.")
-ELSE(NOT "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
-  IF("${MATLAB_MEX}")
+ELSE(NOT EXISTS "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
+  IF(EXISTS "${MATLAB_MEX}")
     MESSAGE(STATUS "Found MATLAB mex compiler: ${MATLAB_MEX}")
     MESSAGE(STATUS "MATLAB root: ${MATLAB_ROOT}")
-  ENDIF("${MATLAB_MEX}")
-ENDIF(NOT "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
+    SET(MATLABMEX_FOUND 1)
+  ENDIF(EXISTS "${MATLAB_MEX}")
+ENDIF(NOT EXISTS "${MATLAB_MEX}" AND "${MatlabMex_FIND_REQUIRED}")
 
 MARK_AS_ADVANCED(
   MATLAB_MEX