Hydrogen trapping behavior has been investigated by means of thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) for a high strength steel after it is austenitized at the temperature range of 880-1250 degrees C, oil quenched, and tempered at 200 degrees C. Results show that with increasing austenitizing temperature, the pre-charged hydrogen concentration in the steel first decreases and then increases, being the lowest value at the austenitizing temperature of 1050 degrees C. The variation of hydrogen concentration with austenitizing temperature is related to the differences in the prior austenite grain size and solute Nb content, which may act as shallow hydrogen traps in the steel. The difference in the pre-charged hydrogen concentration can account for the previously reported result on delayed fracture resistance of the steel after austenitized at different temperatures. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.