Invalid axes handle error with gca?

I'm trying to write a function that places an inset axis on an axis given as an argument among other things, but I keep getting this invalid axes handle error when I try to run:

function aHanNew = magnifyingGlass(aHan, subdomain, insetPosition)
  axes(aHan);
  aHanNew = axes('position',insetPosition);
end
magnifyingGlass(gca,[0.001 0.1],[.6 .6 .25 .25]);

However when I alter the function to be

function aHanNew = magnifyingGlass(aHan, subdomain, insetPosition)
    axes(gca);
    aHanNew = axes('position',insetPosition);
end

It works just fine. When I call axes on gca directly it works, but when I call axes on a variable in which gca is stored it doesn't work. Why is this? and how can I get the first function to work correctly?

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

What is the error message?

[Mason Scott]

It will say "Error using axes, invalid axes handle"

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

I tested your code, there is no error message

Answer 1

[Jan]

Perhaps you have shadowed the function gca by a variable with the same name? You can use the debugger to examine that. Simply set a breakpoinnt in teh offending line and check, what the name points to:

which gca