Abstract Linearized Navier–Stokes equations are solved to investigate the impact on the growth of near-wall turbulent streaks that arises from streamwise-travelling waves of spanwise wall velocity. The percentage change in streak amplification due to the travelling waves, over a range of wave parameters, is compared to published direct numerical simulation (DNS) predictions of turbulent skin-friction reduction; a clear correlation between the two is observed. Linearized simulations at a much higher Reynolds number, more relevant to aerospace applications, produce results that show no marked differences to those obtained at low Reynolds number. It is also observed that there is a close correlation between DNS data of drag reduction and a very simple characteristic of the ‘generalized’ Stokes layer generated by the streamwise-travelling waves.