Local cathodic inhibition has been observed on the cut-edge of galvanized steel immersed in 0.03 M NaCl solution using the scanning vibrating electrode technique. The current distribution results indicate that cathodic inhibition occurs in a limited spatial zone located between the cathodic sites on the steel and the anodic sites on the exposed zinc surface. The experimental current distributions are compared with the results of numerical simulations that show the specific diagnostic features for the detection of cathodic inhibition from scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) data so as to distinguish the zero current regions from experimental artifacts due to the lateral resolution of the technique. The inhibition is attributed to the formation of a zinc-based oxide film at the steel surface controlled by an increase of the interfacial pH. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.