diff --git a/src/pyrecest/distributions/cart_prod/mardia_sutton_distribution.py b/src/pyrecest/distributions/cart_prod/mardia_sutton_distribution.py
index 1e98da13a..94aaa6e50 100644
--- a/src/pyrecest/distributions/cart_prod/mardia_sutton_distribution.py
+++ b/src/pyrecest/distributions/cart_prod/mardia_sutton_distribution.py
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ def pdf(self, xs):
         vm_part = exp(self.kappa * (cos(circular - self.mu0) - 1.0)) / (
             2.0 * pi * ive(0, self.kappa)
         )
-        gaussian_part = array(norm.pdf(linear, loc=muc, scale=float(sigmac)))
+        gaussian_part = exp(-0.5 * ((linear - muc) / sigmac) ** 2) / (
+            sqrt(2.0 * pi) * sigmac
+        )
 
         return vm_part * gaussian_part
 
diff --git a/tests/distributions/test_mardia_sutton_pytorch_autograd.py b/tests/distributions/test_mardia_sutton_pytorch_autograd.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5baad927f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/distributions/test_mardia_sutton_pytorch_autograd.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+import pyrecest.backend
+from pyrecest.distributions.cart_prod.mardia_sutton_distribution import (
+    MardiaSuttonDistribution,
+)
+
+torch = pytest.importorskip("torch")
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    pyrecest.backend.__backend_name__ != "pytorch",
+    reason="PyTorch backend regression",
+)
+
+
+def test_mardia_sutton_pdf_preserves_pytorch_autograd() -> None:
+    distribution = MardiaSuttonDistribution(
+        mu=2.0,
+        mu0=1.0,
+        kappa=0.7,
+        rho1=0.5,
+        rho2=0.3,
+        sigma=1.5,
+    )
+    points = torch.tensor(
+        [[0.8, 1.4], [1.3, 2.7]],
+        dtype=torch.float64,
+        requires_grad=True,
+    )
+
+    density = distribution.pdf(points)
+
+    assert torch.is_tensor(density)
+    assert density.device == points.device
+    assert density.dtype == points.dtype
+    assert density.requires_grad
+    assert torch.all(torch.isfinite(density))
+    assert torch.all(density > 0.0)
+
+    density.sum().backward()
+
+    assert points.grad is not None
+    assert torch.all(torch.isfinite(points.grad))
+    assert torch.any(points.grad != 0.0)