Relaxation measurements performed at high magnetic field in magnetic resonance (MR) may be adversely affected by the influence of radiation damping in concentrated samples such as water. We consider how the measured value of T1 is affected by this phenomenon for a gadolinium-doped water sample and for an undoped water sample and consider the implications for evaluating contrast agents. A simple method involving the application of a pulsed field gradient to de-phase residual transverse components of the magnetization is shown to be an effective method for suppressing this effect. Given the central role that measurement of the T1 of water plays in the assessment of contrast agents as well as a host of other MR applications, care should always be employed when measuring and interpreting T1 measurements at high magnetic fields.