This paper presents the results and analysis of cracking tests carried on samples of silty clay which were subjected to a drying-wetting-drying cycle to study the effect of cyclic change of moisture on the cracking behaviour. During tests, temperature, relative humidity, suction, gravimetric moisture content, etc. were continuously monitored and later cross-referenced with images of the evolving crack pattern characterized with image analysis techniques. The cracking pattern changes clearly with the cyclic change of moisture showing the relationship between the soil's tensile strength and its moisture. The results provide additional new information about the effect of cyclic moisture changes on crack formation and propagation in soils. They also show the differences between several methods of obtaining water retention curves, and evidence scale effect in soil cracking.