Several commercial Cr-Mo-V steels known to be of different susceptibilities to heat-affected zone stress-relief cracking were compared by means of a modified rupture test, and the differences in susceptibilities demonstrated; these were attributed principally to variations in vanadium content. Comparison of these data with those obtained previously for impurities shows that variations in vanadium content have a dominant effect on stress-relief cracking. The conclusions are examined against a background of experience gained within the power-generating industry.