Fe-12 Mn alloys undergo failure by catastrophic intergranular fracture when tested at low temperature in the as-austenitized condition, a consideration which prevents their use for structural applications at cryogenic temperatures. The present research was undertaken to identify modifications in alloy composition or heat treatment which would suppress this embrittlement. Chemical and microstructural analyses were made on the prior austenite grain boundaries within the alloy in its embrittled state. These studies failed to reveal a chemical or microstructural source for the brittleness, suggesting that intergranular brittleness is inherent to the alloy in the as-austenitized condition. The addition of 0.002 to 0.01 wt pct boron successfully prevented intergranular fracture, leading to a spectacular improvement in the low temperature impact toughness of the alloy. Autoradiographic studies suggest that boron segregates to the austenite grain boundaries during annealing at temperatures near 1000 °C. The cryogenic toughness of a Fe-12Mn-0.002B alloy could be further improved by suitable tempering treatments. However, the alloy embrittled if inappropriate tempering temperatures were used. This temper embrittlement was concom-itant with the dissolution of boron from the prior austenite grain boundaries, which reestablishes the intergranular fracture mode.