diff --git a/lib/algfld.gi b/lib/algfld.gi
index 9356eb1553..12b356f533 100644
--- a/lib/algfld.gi
+++ b/lib/algfld.gi
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ local fam,i,cof,red,rchar,impattr,deg,tmp;
   else
     rchar:=0;
   fi;
-  fam!.rchar:=rchar;
+  fam!.rchar:=Size(f);
 
   fam!.poly:=p;
   fam!.polCoeffs:=CoefficientsOfUnivariatePolynomial(p);
diff --git a/tst/teststandard/algext.tst b/tst/teststandard/algext.tst
index 29160e264f..9b48f78f2c 100644
--- a/tst/teststandard/algext.tst
+++ b/tst/teststandard/algext.tst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ##
 ##  Test of algebraic extensions.
 ##
-#@local t, f0, p1, f1, p2, f2, p3, f3, p4, f4, x, l, a, ll, b
+#@local t, f0, p1, f1, p2, f2, p3, f3, p4, f4, x, l, a, ll, b, pol, K, xinv, c
 gap> START_TEST("algext.tst");
 gap> t := Runtime();;
 gap> f0 := GF(3);;
@@ -25,5 +25,12 @@ gap> b := RootOfDefiningPolynomial(ll);;
 gap> (a+b)^5-(a-b)^5;
 20*alpha^2*beta^3+(10*alpha^2-10)*beta+!4
 
+#
+gap> pol := UnivariatePolynomial(GF(293), Z(293)^0 * ConwayPol(293,8));;
+gap> K := AlgebraicExtension(GF(293), pol);;
+gap> xinv := 1/PrimitiveElement(K);
+Z(293)^145*a^7+Z(293)^274*a^3+Z(293)^120*a^2+Z(293)^134*a+Z(293)^179
+gap> c := Random(K);;
+
 #
 gap> STOP_TEST("algext.tst",1);