The invention relates to methods for protecting cereal crops from injury caused by a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicide, in particular, herbicides selected from the group consisting of AHAS-inhibiting, ACCase-inhibiting and HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, which comprises applying to the crop plant, the seed of the crop, or the soil surrounding the crop or crop seed an effective non-phytotoxic antidotal amount of a benzothiazole derivative of formula I ##STR1## wherein A represents an alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, hydroxy, cyano or nitro group or a group of the formula ##STR2## in which W represents O or S, and R represents a hydroxy, thiol, alkoxy, thioalkyl, amino, alkylamino or dialkylamino group; and X represents CH or N; Also included are safened herbicidal compositions comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicide and an effective nonphytotoxic antidotal amount a benzothiazole derivative of formula I.