diff --git a/matlab/run_gdat_tests.m b/matlab/run_gdat_tests.m
index f7679fdce296b4d564e2bb161864e2a2386139cf..b29021ad7df90fea2ce82d80c52fac100b9b0d98 100644
--- a/matlab/run_gdat_tests.m
+++ b/matlab/run_gdat_tests.m
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ if isempty(test_case)
   disp([{'all'};unique([suite_all.Tags])']);
   return
 end
-assert(~(coverage_report && strcmpi(test_case,'coverage')),'coverage_report=true should only be used with test_case=''coverage''');
+if coverage_report
+  assert(~verLessThan('matlab','9.6.0'),'coverage_report=true needs MATLAB 9.6.0 or later');
+  assert( strcmpi(test_case,'coverage'),'coverage_report=true should only be used with test_case=''coverage''');
+end
 
 [~,s] = lastwarn();
 if isequal(s,'MATLAB:unittest:TestSuite:FileExcluded')
@@ -63,7 +66,7 @@ if isequal(s,'MATLAB:unittest:TestSuite:FileExcluded')
 end
  
 switch lower(test_case)
-  case 'all'
+  case {'all','coverage'}
     suite = suite_all; % run all
   otherwise
     s = HasTag(test_case);