The results show that the managers use positive discretionary accruals when financially distressed firm are granted waivers for debt covenant violations, and they use negative discretionary accruals when waivers are not granted and the debt contract terms are renegotiated, especially when the troubled debts are restructured. These results suggest that the managers use income-increaing discretionary accruals if techical default is due to temporary financial difficulties and the firm is basically in good financial condition, which is recognized by creditors by granting waivers for debt covenant violations. If financial distress is severe and waivers for debt covenant violations are not granted, especially when financial distress leads to debt restructuring, the managers use negative discretionary accruals to highlight the firm's financial difficulties, which may enable them to negative better terms for debt contracts.