We consider the in-plane critical current parallel to the surface of a layered superconductor. We demonstrate that the layered structure results  in a specific temperature dependent potential well for the flux lines penetrating the sample in the direction parallel the surface and normal to the superconducting layers. Mainly, this well appears because of the finite distance between the layers and is located at a distance x0 from the surface, much larger then the London penetration depth for currents within the layers. By allowing the movement of flux lines only in a direction parallel to the surface of the sample this potential is essentially a pining center, which increases the critical current density in the vicinity of the surface.