It is well known that various arm displacements associated with different initial stress intensity factor KIapplied in DCB test of NACE TM0177 can result in different measured critical stress intensity factor for sulfide stress cracking (KISSC) values in corrosion environments. However other factors such as initial notch tip locations i.e. initial notch length can also affect the KIapplied and that can ultimately affect the KISSC and KLIMIT measurement. This study shows that the effects of initial notch locations with ai/h varying from standard 1.125 (Chevron tip) 1.250 (lined up EDM tip) and 1.375 (current standard EDM tip) to non standard and extended 1.500 and 1.625 in DCB specimens on the KIapplied KISSC and Klimit through experimental testing. Three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted for the compliance and KIapplied analysis of the various specimen configurations. It was found that the variation of notch location has the similar linear effects on KISSC and Klimit as arm displacement has. The Klimit measured by varying initial notch locations is almost identical to the one measured by traditional arm displacement variation. The corresponding sulfide stress cracking mechanism in DCB testing was also discussed. This may suggest a new approach to obtain Klimit by varying notch locations instead of arm displacements for better accuracy and more constant measurements of KISSC.Key words: double cantilever beam (DCB) MR0177 critical stress intensity factor for sulfide stress cracking (KISSC) Klimit initial notch tip locations