Pharmacological inhibition of excitatory neurotransmission attenuates cell death in models of global ischemia/reperfusion and hypoglycemia. The current investigations extend these observations to a model of focal ischemia. Kynurenic acid, a broad‐spectrum antagonist at excitatory amino acid receptors, was used as treatment (300 mg/kg; 3 doses at 4‐hour intervals) before and after focal cerebral ischemia in rats (n = 54). Preischemia but not 1 hour postischemia treatment with kynurenate attenuated infarction size (p < 0.001) and improved neurological outcome (p < 0.001) studied at 24 hours after injury. These data support the role of excitatory neurotransmission in acute neuronal injury and support pharmacological inhibition of cell excitation as a potential therapy for stroke.