The effect of small amounts of gallium on the intergranular segregation of phosphorus in carbon steels is discussed, with the help of the impact test, fracture morphology and micro-structure analyses, combined with composition analysis on the fracture surfaces by Auger electronspectrometer. The results show that gallium in the steel with a content of gallium more than ten thou-sandth can suppress, to some extent, the intergranular segregation of phosphorus and retard the tempering process. As a result, the temper embrittlement of the steel disappears and the embrittlement transition temperature declines.