The main result of this paper shows that if G is a finite nonabelian p-group and if C-G(Z(Phi(G))) not equal Phi(G), then G has a noninner automorphism of order p which fixes Phi(G). This reduces the verification of the longstanding conjecture that every finite nonabelian p-group G has a noninner automorphism of order p to the degenerate case in which C-G(Z(Phi(G))) = Phi(G). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).