© 2016 Elsevier B.V.In contrast to the conventional model predictive control (MPC) approach to control of a given system where a positive–definite objective function is employed, economic MPC employs a generic cost which is related to the ‘economics’ of the process as the objective function in the regulation layer. Often, stability proofs of the closed-loop system are based on strict-dissipativity of the system with respect to this objective function. In this paper, we focus on linear systems with indefinite quadratic costs. We show that while strict–dissipativity guarantees stability of the closed–loop system, it is not required. Hence we formulate a necessary and sufficient condition that guarantees asymptotic stability of the closed loop system. This condition comes down to the existence of two distinct storage functions for which the system is dissipative.