Samples made from Vanadis 6 PM ledeburitic tool steel were surface machined, ground, and mirror polished. They were heat treated and coated with CrN with and without Ag addition by reactive magnetron sputtering. The CrN film grew in a typically columnar manner. A small addition of 3% Ag did not lead to alterations in the growth mechanism. The hardness of the CrN coating was 16.79 +/- 1.49 GPa compared to 15.97 +/- 1.44 GPa for the coating with Ag addition. The Ag addition in the CrN improved adhesion of the coating, which can be attributed to the capability of CrAgN coating to accommodate higher deformation energy before failure. The CrAgN coating exhibited superior tribological properties at intermediate temperatures. Compared to pure CrN the friction coefficient is lowered to 70-75% when measured at 400 and 500 degrees C, respectively. This is reflected in a reduction in the volume wear, which was found to be three times lower for the coating containing Ag. Flexural strength decreased slightly for the CrN- or CrAgN-coated material compared to uncoated steel. However, as the decrease in flexural strength is very weak there is practically no risk of significant embrittlement of the investigated material due to the CrN coating with or without Ag addition. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.