A process for preparing an isocyanate by reacting a primary amine with phosgene. The process includes providing an amine solution and adjusting its temperature in a heat exchanger, providing a phosgene solution and adjusting its temperature in a heat exchanger, mixing the amine solution with the phosgene solution, further conversion in an adiabatically operated reaction zone and the removing of the gas phase formed as a result of the chemical reaction in a separation zone, expanding the remaining liquid phase, further conversion of the liquid phase remaining after expansion in an indirectly heated reaction zone, and isolating the isocyanate from the obtained reaction solution. The temperature in the reaction zone and the temperature in the separation zone is adjusted by fixing a target value of 110° C. to 145° C. for the temperature of the reaction mixture and using the actual temperature of the reaction mixture for closed-loop control of the temperature of the solution of the primary amine and/or of the temperature of the solution of phosgene.