The solvent from which the active layer is drop cast dramatically influences the electrical characteristics and electrical stability of thin-film transistors comprising bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene. Casting from high boiling solvents allows slower crystallization; devices cast from toluene and chlorobenzene thus exhibit mobilities >0.1 cm2 /V s and on/off ratios of ∼ 106. More importantly, the solvent choice influences the device stability. Devices from toluene exhibit stable characteristics, whereas devices from chlorobenzene show hystereses on cycling, with dramatic threshold voltage shifts toward positive voltages. The instability in chlorobenzene devices is attributed to the migration of water and solvent impurities to the charge transport interface on repetitive testing. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.