N,N-dialkylanilines can be prepared by reacting the anilines on which they are based with lower alcohols or with the corresponding ethers, at an increased temperature in the gas phase in the presence of a proton-containing zeolite catalyst of the pentasil type having an SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of >60, it being advantageous to carry out the alkylation process under a pressure of 2-30 bar.