The breakdown voltage (VKB) of a cold cathode glass discharge tube, driven by negative voltage pulses, is greatly increased by charges which the pulses deposit on the inside walls of the tube. It is shown thatVKBcan be almost halved by neutralizing these negative wall charges with positive pulses of amplitudeV+, applied to the tube electrodes. Explanations are given of the dependence ofVKBonV+and the implications for gas discharge display systems are also considered.