Signals mediated by chemokine receptors may compete with T cell receptor stop signals and determine the duration of T cell–antigen-presenting cell interactions. Here we show that during T cell stimulation by antigen-presenting cells, T cell chemokine receptors coupled to G_q and/or G₁₁ protein were recruited to the immunological synapse by a G_i-independent mechanism. When chemokine receptors were sequestered at the immunological synapse, T cells became insensitive to chemotactic gradients, formed more stable conjugates and finally responded with enhanced proliferation and cytokine production. We suggest that chemokine receptor trapping at the immunological synapse enhances T cell activation by improving T cell–antigen-presenting cell attraction and impeding the 'distraction' of successfully engaged T cells by other chemokine sources.