This paper investigates the potential of Laser Surface Melting (LSM), carried out using an excimer laser, to suppress the localised intergranular corrosion of friction stir welds (FSW) from the alloys 2024-T351 and 7010-T7651. The laser-melted surfaces have been characterised using optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), immersion testing and atmospheric corrosion panels. A micro-electrochemical technique has also been used to obtain profiles of the anodic and cathodic reactivity across the width of each weld and laser treated surface. LSM treatment has been shown to produce a chemically homogeneous melt layer (similar to10mum thick), which is more corrosion resistant than the untreated alloy. By laser-treating the surface of FS welds, it has been possible to suppress intergranular corrosion of the HAZ and nugget regions, displacing it instead into the surrounding untreated material where a more general pitting attack occurs.