diff --git a/src/scalmat.jl b/src/scalmat.jl
index feabe8a..8144615 100644
--- a/src/scalmat.jl
+++ b/src/scalmat.jl
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ end
 
 ### Conversion
 Base.convert(::Type{ScalMat{T}}, a::ScalMat{T}) where {T<:Real} = a
-Base.convert(::Type{ScalMat{T}}, a::ScalMat) where {T<:Real} = ScalMat(a.dim, T(a.value))
+Base.convert(::Type{ScalMat{T}}, a::ScalMat) where {T<:Real} = ScalMat{T}(a.dim, T(a.value))
 Base.convert(::Type{AbstractPDMat{T}}, a::ScalMat) where {T<:Real} = convert(ScalMat{T}, a)
 
 ### Basics
diff --git a/test/pdmtypes.jl b/test/pdmtypes.jl
index a8f7530..f31ccb6 100644
--- a/test/pdmtypes.jl
+++ b/test/pdmtypes.jl
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ using Test
     end
 
     @testset "float type conversions" begin
-        for T in (Float32, Float64), S in (Float32, Float64)
+        for T in (Float32, Float64), S in (Float32, Float64, Real)
             A = PDMat(Matrix{T}(I, 2, 2))
             for R in (AbstractArray{S}, AbstractMatrix{S}, AbstractPDMat{S}, PDMat{S})
                 B = @inferred(convert(R, A))
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ using Test
                 @test B isa ScalMat{S}
                 @test B == A
                 @test (B === A) === (S === T)
-                @test (B.value === A.value) === (S === T)
+                # Conversion to `Real` does not change the scalar `value`
+                @test (B.value === A.value) === (S === T || S === Real)
             end
 
             if HAVE_CHOLMOD