The authors investigate the transient response of ap‐njunction in a circuit where the applied voltage is suddenly switched from the forward to the reversed direction. The behavior is studied as a function of the circuit resistance. The solution of the appropriate diffusion equation is carried out for a time‐dependent boundary condition, resulting in an integrodifferential equation. Analytical and numerical results for the current and the junction voltage as a function of time are then obtained by suitable approximations for the ``recovery'' and reverse periods. The ``recovery'' or reversal timetfis the time required for the junction voltage to become negative and is given byerftf&tgr;=11+(If/Ir),where &tgr; is the lifetime of holes,Ifis the forward current, andIrthe initial reverse current, which is limited by the external resistance.