diff --git a/code/classes/SCDclass_expcode.m b/code/classes/SCDclass_expcode.m
index 98e742d3b4e75484cd105298c6c789c806aaa76e..c7a478001fc94c5bac20f6729ed2b9c7c1cd4bb2 100644
--- a/code/classes/SCDclass_expcode.m
+++ b/code/classes/SCDclass_expcode.m
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ classdef SCDclass_expcode
         end
         
         function obj = setnode(obj,node,nodenr)
+          assert(nargout==1,'must set output argument when calling setnode')
           node = node.setactive(true);
           assert(node.nodenr == nodenr,...
             'set node number and node property do not match while setting node %s',nodenr)