The optimal tempering conditions for a martensitic medium-carbon steel (0.47 mass% C) were investigated in terms of balancing ductility and pitting corrosion resistance. By tempering the as-quenched martensite, its Vickers hardness drastically decreased within 0.1 h, suggesting that ductility was sufficiently recovered by short-time tempering. Based on the results of micro-scale polarization in boric-borate buffer solutions with NaCl (pH 8.0), stable pits were initiated at non-metallic inclusions in the specimens tempered for at least 1 h; however, no stable pit was generated on the 0.1 h tempered and as-quenched specimens. Short-time tempering of martensite was suggested to be a feasible approach to striking an optimal balance between facilitating pitting corrosion resistance and achieving the desired mechanical properties of martensitic carbon steels. (C) The Author(s) 2018. Published by ECS.