In a method for the manufacture of a hydrocarbon resin made of at least one cyclic diolefin component and at least one ethylenically unsaturated aromatic component having 8 to 13 carbon atoms, the monomer mixture is heated to a polymerisation temperature of at least 180° C. at a heating speed of 0.5 to 10° C./second to obtain a hydrocarbon resin with a reduced amount of by-products, wherein the monomer mixture is essentially liquid in a single phase during the heating to at least 180° C. and during polymerisation, and the subsequently hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin has good compatibility with other components of hot-melt adhesives.