The meniscograph and the sessile drop wetting methods, associatedwith in situ surface analyses, were used to quantify the influenceof the annealing atmosphere on zinc wetting during the hot dipgalvanising of high strength steels. If a clear wetting improvement isobtained for higher oxygen partial pressures, associated with a sufficienthydrogen amount, in the soaking area, a dry atmosphereabove the zinc bath has however to be preferred.