diff --git a/src/meshlabplugins/filter_meshing/meshfilter.cpp b/src/meshlabplugins/filter_meshing/meshfilter.cpp
index f5cd4b964..22aaa009f 100644
--- a/src/meshlabplugins/filter_meshing/meshfilter.cpp
+++ b/src/meshlabplugins/filter_meshing/meshfilter.cpp
@@ -1349,24 +1349,26 @@ case FP_COMPUTE_PRINC_CURV_DIR:
 
   case FP_REFINE_HALF_CATMULL:
   {
-	  m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEQUALITY);
+	  m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEQUALITY | MeshModel::MM_FACEFACETOPO);
 	  tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::MakePureByRefine(m.cm);
 	  tri::UpdateNormals<CMeshO>::PerBitQuadFaceNormalized(m.cm);
 	  assert(tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::IsBitTriQuadConventional(m.cm));
-		m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEFACETOPO);
 
   } break;
 
   case FP_REFINE_CATMULL :
   { // in practice it is just a simple double application of the FP_REFINE_HALF_CATMULL.
-    m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEQUALITY);
+	  m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEQUALITY | MeshModel::MM_FACEFACETOPO);
 	  tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::MakePureByRefine(m.cm);
-	  assert(tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::IsBitTriQuadConventional(m.cm));
-	  tri::UpdateTopology<CMeshO>::FaceFace(m.cm);
+	  if (!tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::IsBitTriQuadConventional(m.cm))
+	  {
+		  errorMessage = "The input mesh has not third edge faux for all triangles.";
+		  return false;
+	  }
 	  tri::BitQuadCreation<CMeshO>::MakePureByRefine(m.cm);
 	  tri::UpdateNormals<CMeshO>::PerBitQuadFaceNormalized(m.cm);
 	  m.clearDataMask(MeshModel::MM_FACEFACETOPO);
-		m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_POLYGONAL);
+	  m.updateDataMask(MeshModel::MM_POLYGONAL);
   } break;
 
   case FP_QUAD_PAIRING :