diff --git a/Utility functions/isValidBaseVar.m b/Utility functions/isValidBaseVar.m
index cb4fdc3..c0d3e65 100644
--- a/Utility functions/isValidBaseVar.m	
+++ b/Utility functions/isValidBaseVar.m	
@@ -1,20 +1,7 @@
 % Check if the name belongs to a valid object in the global workspace
 
 function bool = isValidBaseVar(name)  
-    try
-        var = evalin('base', name);
-    catch
-        bool = false;
-        return
-    end
-    
-    try
-        bool = isvalid(var);
-    catch
-
-        % If variable exists and isvalid function is not applicable to
-        % it, it is still regarded as valid
-        bool = true;
-    end
+    cmd = sprintf('exist(''%s'', ''var'') && isvalid(%s)', name, name);
+    bool = evalin('base', cmd);
 end