Summary A controlled, double‐blind study was performed to compare the prior administration of intravenous saline 4 ml (n = 36), lignocaine 20 mg (n = 36) or thiopentone 100 mg (n = 43) on the pain produced by intravenous injection of propofol. One hundred and fifteen ASA 1 or 2 patients scheduled for minor surgery were studied using a randomised, double‐blind design. Thiopentone was more effective than lignocaine in reducing the incidence of propofol injection pain (p < 0.03).