diff --git a/modopt/math/matrix.py b/modopt/math/matrix.py
index 939cf41f..8361531d 100644
--- a/modopt/math/matrix.py
+++ b/modopt/math/matrix.py
@@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ class PowerMethod(object):
     >>> np.random.seed(1)
     >>> pm = PowerMethod(lambda x: x.dot(x.T), (3, 3))
     >>> np.around(pm.spec_rad, 6)
-    0.904292
+    1.0
     >>> np.around(pm.inv_spec_rad, 6)
-    1.105837
+    1.0
 
     Notes
     -----
@@ -348,17 +348,21 @@ def get_spec_rad(self, tolerance=1e-6, max_iter=20, extra_factor=1.0):
         # Set (or reset) values of x.
         x_old = self._set_initial_x()
 
+        xp = get_array_module(x_old)
+        x_old_norm = xp.linalg.norm(x_old)
+
+        x_old /= x_old_norm
+
         # Iterate until the L2 norm of x converges.
         for i_elem in range(max_iter):
-
             xp = get_array_module(x_old)
 
-            x_old_norm = xp.linalg.norm(x_old)
-
-            x_new = self._operator(x_old) / x_old_norm
+            x_new = self._operator(x_old)
 
             x_new_norm = xp.linalg.norm(x_new)
 
+            x_new /= x_new_norm
+
             if (xp.abs(x_new_norm - x_old_norm) < tolerance):
                 message = (
                     ' - Power Method converged after {0} iterations!'
@@ -374,6 +378,7 @@ def get_spec_rad(self, tolerance=1e-6, max_iter=20, extra_factor=1.0):
                 print(message.format(max_iter))
 
             xp.copyto(x_old, x_new)
+            x_old_norm = x_new_norm
 
         self.spec_rad = x_new_norm * extra_factor
         self.inv_spec_rad = 1.0 / self.spec_rad
diff --git a/modopt/tests/test_math.py b/modopt/tests/test_math.py
index 99908e02..ba175ae6 100644
--- a/modopt/tests/test_math.py
+++ b/modopt/tests/test_math.py
@@ -234,13 +234,13 @@ def test_powermethod_converged(self):
         """Test PowerMethod converged."""
         npt.assert_almost_equal(
             self.pmInstance1.spec_rad,
-            0.90429242629600837,
+            1.0,
             err_msg='Incorrect spectral radius: converged',
         )
 
         npt.assert_almost_equal(
             self.pmInstance1.inv_spec_rad,
-            1.1058369736612865,
+            1.0,
             err_msg='Incorrect inverse spectral radius: converged',
         )
 
@@ -248,13 +248,13 @@ def test_powermethod_unconverged(self):
         """Test PowerMethod unconverged."""
         npt.assert_almost_equal(
             self.pmInstance2.spec_rad,
-            0.92048833577059219,
+            0.8675467477372257,
             err_msg='Incorrect spectral radius: unconverged',
         )
 
         npt.assert_almost_equal(
             self.pmInstance2.inv_spec_rad,
-            1.0863798715741946,
+            1.152675636913221,
             err_msg='Incorrect inverse spectral radius: unconverged',
         )