Disclosed are various embodiments for eliminating or minimizing atmospheric discharge within the internal phasing coil of the guided surface waveguide probe. A guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium. The shape of the charge terminal is designed to minimize atmospheric discharge. A top portion of a coil being configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the lossy conducting medium is recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal.