Fatigue　failure　of　hard　coatings　usually　occurs　at　much　lower　loads　than　failure　under　static　loading.　Hence　one　way　to　evaluate　coating　adhesion　should　be　cyclic　loading　close　to　service　conditions.　In　this　study,　a　new　method　of　adhesion　measurement　for　hard　coatings　is　introduced　based　on　interfacial　fatigue　under　repeated　indentation.　Mono-　and　multi-layered　coatings　with　different　interfacial　states　are　evaluated　by　a　repeated-indentation　test.　Detachment　of　the　coatings　occurs　initially　at　the　rim　of　the　indenter　imprint,　apparently　as　a　result　of　adhesive　failure.　In　contrast　to　monolayer　coatings,　peeling　of　multilayer　coatings　depends　on　the　lowest　strength　of　the　interfaces.　This　study　also　demonstrates　that　the　adhesion　determined　by　the　repeated-indentation　test　is　sensitive　to　the　interfacial　state,　allowing　an　optimised　or　weakened　interface　to　be　clearly　revealed.