An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer for carrying a toner image, a charger for contacting a surface of the image bearer, a cleaning blade for contacting the image bearer surface to remove toner thereon after toner image transfer onto a transfer material, and a controller for controlling a voltage applied to the charger. The controller applies to the charger a first potential which includes a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a discharge starting voltage in an image forming operation, and applies to the charger a second voltage which includes a peak-to-peak voltage smaller than the discharge starting voltage, for at least one full rotation of the image bearer, after completion of image formation and before an AC voltage component applied to the charger is shut off.