diff --git a/src/pyrecest/distributions/circle/von_mises_distribution.py b/src/pyrecest/distributions/circle/von_mises_distribution.py
index df4a11db9..5f6709b04 100644
--- a/src/pyrecest/distributions/circle/von_mises_distribution.py
+++ b/src/pyrecest/distributions/circle/von_mises_distribution.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.mu = mu
         self.kappa = kappa
         self._norm_const = norm_const
+        self._norm_const_is_explicit = norm_const is not None
 
     def get_params(self):
         return self.mu, self.kappa
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ def norm_const(self):
 
     def pdf(self, xs):
         xs = array(xs)
-        if self._norm_const is None:
+        if not getattr(self, "_norm_const_is_explicit", False):
             p = exp(self.kappa * (cos(xs - self.mu) - 1.0)) / (
                 2.0 * pi * ive(0, self.kappa)
             )
diff --git a/tests/distributions/test_von_mises_distribution.py b/tests/distributions/test_von_mises_distribution.py
index f7736977d..406e2fe20 100644
--- a/tests/distributions/test_von_mises_distribution.py
+++ b/tests/distributions/test_von_mises_distribution.py
@@ -41,6 +41,16 @@ def test_large_concentration_pdf_and_entropy_are_finite(self):
         self.assertGreater(float(mode_pdf[0]), 0.0)
         self.assertTrue(np.isfinite(float(entropy)))
 
+    def test_large_concentration_pdf_stays_stable_after_norm_const_access(self):
+        dist = VonMisesDistribution(0.3, 1000.0)
+        expected = VonMisesDistribution(0.3, 1000.0).pdf(array([0.3]))
+
+        _ = dist.norm_const
+        mode_pdf = dist.pdf(array([0.3]))
+
+        self.assertTrue(np.isfinite(float(mode_pdf[0])))
+        npt.assert_allclose(mode_pdf, expected)
+
     def test_pdf(self):
         dist = VonMisesDistribution(2, 1)
         xs = linspace(1, 7, 7)