Let $a>0$ be a real cyclotomic number. Is it always possible to solve in cyclotomics the equation $X\overline{X}=a$ ? Equivalently, one might want to express $a$ as a sum of squares of two real cyclotomics. It is well-known that one square is not always enough. (If two squares are not enough, then, is there an upper bound?). **Edit**: $a$ is not only positive, but totally positive (otherwise the answer is No).