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Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of surface crack on the bending fatigue limit of nitrocarburized steel. Semicircular slits with depths of 0.040, 0.075, and 0.100 mm were introduced on the surface of nitrocarburized medium carbon steel specimens to simulate the presence of small cracks. Bending fatigue tests were performed at room temperature in air with the stress ratio R = −1. It was observed that the fatigue limit decreased as the depth of the slit increased. The acceptable crack size was estimated based on fracture mechanics. The predicted acceptable crack size was consistent with the experimental result. Therefore, the acceptable crack size of nitrocarburized carbon steel could be predicted via analysis based on fracture mechanics.