Controlled semi-elliptical surface flaws were produced in hotpressed SIC by Knoop microhardness indentation. Flawed specimens were placed in 4-point bending in order to determine their critical stress intensity factor, Klc, at both room and high temperatures. Room-temperature fracture and K l c values after annealing were sensitive to the annealing environment; this behavior correlated with the active/passive nature of the oxidation process. Flaw healing was observed for annealing exposures in air. Room-temperature K l c values increased with increasing annealing temperature. High-temperature K l c values decreased with increasing temperature as a result of a decrease in the fracture surface energy.