Abstract. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is attracting the attention of the biomedical field, thanks to its high biocompatibility and wear resistance. Nevertheless, the attainment of good quality surfaces when machining PEEK is still challenging. In this framework, the aim of the paper is to investigate the viability of using cryogenic machining to enhance the surface finish of PEEK compared to the outcomes of dry cutting. To do that, turning trails were executed at varying cooling strategy and depth of cut, and the resultant surface finish and chip morphology were evaluated. The obtained results indicated that cryogenic machining carried out at the highest depth of cut greatly enhanced the PEEK machinability.