Go¨rtler instability for boundary‐layer flows over generally curved walls is considered. The full‐linearized disturbance equations are obtained in an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. A perturbation procedure to account for second‐order effects is used to determine the effects of the displacement thickness and the variation of the streamline curvature on the neutral stability of the Blasius flow. The streamwise pressure gradient in the mean flow is accounted for by solving the nonsimilar boundary‐layer equations. Growth rates are obtained for the actual mean flow and compared with those for the Blasius flow and the Falkner–Skan flows. The results demonstrate the strong influence of the streamwise pressure gradient and the nonsimilarity of the basic flow on the stability characteristics.