diff --git a/src/vec8bit.c b/src/vec8bit.c
index d83712c4cb..dcc74b7463 100644
--- a/src/vec8bit.c
+++ b/src/vec8bit.c
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ static Obj FuncPROD_VEC8BIT_FFE(Obj self, Obj vec, Obj ffe)
     GAP_ASSERT(CHAR_FF(FLD_FFE(ffe)) == P_FIELDINFO_8BIT(info));
 
     // check for field compatibility
-    if (d % DEGR_FF(FLD_FFE(ffe))) {
+    if (d % DegreeFFE(ffe)) {
         prod = ProdListScl(vec, ffe);
         CALL_1ARGS(ConvertToVectorRep, prod);
         return prod;
diff --git a/tst/testbugfix/2024-03-25-compressed-mat-scalar.tst b/tst/testbugfix/2024-03-25-compressed-mat-scalar.tst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0df7064a22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tst/testbugfix/2024-03-25-compressed-mat-scalar.tst
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Multiplying a compressed matrix by a scalar could result
+# in corrupt data. See <https://github.com/gap-system/gap/issues/5684>
+#
+gap> g1 := GO(1,6,64).1;
+< immutable compressed matrix 6x6 over GF(64) >
+gap> a := g1*Z(2^4)^5;
+< immutable compressed matrix 6x6 over GF(64) >
+gap> b := g1*Z(2^2);
+< immutable compressed matrix 6x6 over GF(64) >
+gap> a = b;
+true
+gap> TransposedMat(a) = TransposedMat(b);
+true
+gap> List(a, Q_VEC8BIT);
+[ 64, 64, 64, 64, 64, 64 ]
+gap> List(b, Q_VEC8BIT);
+[ 64, 64, 64, 64, 64, 64 ]
+
+# also verify printing matches
+gap> Display(a);
+z = Z(64)
+ z^22    .    .    .    .    .
+    . z^20    .    .    .    .
+    .    .    . z^21    .    .
+    .    . z^21    .    .    .
+    .    .    .    .    . z^21
+    .    .    .    . z^21    .
+gap> Display(b);
+z = Z(64)
+ z^22    .    .    .    .    .
+    . z^20    .    .    .    .
+    .    .    . z^21    .    .
+    .    . z^21    .    .    .
+    .    .    .    .    . z^21
+    .    .    .    . z^21    .
+gap> Display(TransposedMat(a));
+z = Z(64)
+ z^22    .    .    .    .    .
+    . z^20    .    .    .    .
+    .    .    . z^21    .    .
+    .    . z^21    .    .    .
+    .    .    .    .    . z^21
+    .    .    .    . z^21    .
+gap> Display(TransposedMat(b));
+z = Z(64)
+ z^22    .    .    .    .    .
+    . z^20    .    .    .    .
+    .    .    . z^21    .    .
+    .    . z^21    .    .    .
+    .    .    .    .    . z^21
+    .    .    .    . z^21    .