Process for the preparation of ethanol and/or higher alcohols comprising the steps of: (a) providing an alcohol synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a molar ratio of higher than 0.5; (c) adding an amount of methanol and/or higher alcohols to the synthesis gas to obtain a synthesis gas mixture. (d) converting the synthesis gas mixture from step (c) in presence of one or more catalysts catalysing the conversion of the synthesis gas mixture into a ethanol and/or higher alcohols containing product; and (e) withdrawing the product from step (d), wherein the synthesis gas is purified by removing iron and nickel carbonyl compounds prior or after the addition methanol and/or higher alcohols to the synthesis gas and optionally (I) cooling the withdrawn product in step (e); and (g) contacting the cooled product with a hydrogenation catalyst.