diff --git a/spatialmath/twist.py b/spatialmath/twist.py
index 928235e4..2c717a3a 100644
--- a/spatialmath/twist.py
+++ b/spatialmath/twist.py
@@ -986,7 +986,7 @@ def pole(self):
             >>> S = Twist3(T)
             >>> S.pole
         """
-        return np.cross(self.w, self.v) / self.theta
+        return np.cross(self.w, self.v) / np.dot(self.w, self.w)
 
     def SE3(self, theta=1, unit="rad"):
         """
@@ -1500,7 +1500,7 @@ def pole(self):
             >>> S.pole()
 
         """
-        p = np.cross(np.r_[0, 0, self.w], np.r_[self.v, 0]) / self.theta
+        p = np.cross(np.r_[0, 0, self.w], np.r_[self.v, 0]) / self.w**2
         return p[:2]
 
     # -------------------------  methods -------------------------------#
diff --git a/tests/test_twist_pole.py b/tests/test_twist_pole.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8acc2e34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_twist_pole.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+from scipy.linalg import expm
+
+from spatialmath import Twist2, Twist3
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("speed", [-2.0, -0.3, 0.3, 1.0, 2.0])
+def test_twist2_pole_is_rotation_center(speed):
+    """A change in angular speed must not move the center of rotation."""
+    center = np.array([3.0, -2.0])
+    twist = Twist2(speed * np.r_[center[1], -center[0], 1])
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(twist.pole, center)
+    transform = expm(twist.skewa() * 0.7)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(
+        transform @ np.r_[twist.pole, 1], np.r_[center, 1], atol=1e-14
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("speed", [-2.0, -0.3, 0.3, 1.0, 2.0])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("pitch", [0, 0.4])
+def test_twist3_pole_is_on_screw_axis(speed, pitch):
+    """The closest axis point is fixed except for translation along the axis."""
+    axis = np.array([1.0, 2.0, -2.0]) / 3
+    center = np.array([3.0, -2.0, 1.0])
+    center -= (center @ axis) * axis
+    angular = speed * axis
+    linear = -np.cross(angular, center) + pitch * angular
+    twist = Twist3(linear, angular)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(twist.pole, center)
+    transform = expm(twist.skewa() * 0.7)
+    expected = center + pitch * angular * 0.7
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(
+        (transform @ np.r_[twist.pole, 1])[:3], expected, atol=1e-14
+    )