We measured the vertical water column distribution of nitrous oxide (N₂O) during the European Iron Fertilization Experiment (EIFEX) in the subpolar South Atlantic Ocean during February/March 2004 (R/V Polarstern cruise ANT XXI/3). Despite a huge build-up and sedimentation of a phytoplankton bloom, a comparison of the N₂O concentrations within the fertilized patch with concentrations measured outside the fertilized patch revealed no N₂O accumulation within 33 days. This is in contrast to a previous study in the Southern Ocean, where enhanced N₂O accumulation occurred in the pycnocline. Thus, we conclude that Fe fertilization does not necessarily trigger additional N₂O formation and we caution that a predicted radiative offset due to a Fe-induced additional release of oceanic N₂O might be overestimated. Rapid sedimentation events during EIFEX might have hindered the build-up of N₂O and suggest, that not only the production of phytoplankton biomass but also its pathway in the water column needs to be considered if N₂O radiative offset is modeled.