A process is described for preparing purified caprolactam, comprising the steps a) extraction of crude caprolactam, obtained from the Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime, with an organic extractant, b) removal of the organic phase from step a), c) distillative separation of the organic extractant from the organic phase from step b) giving rise to water-containing lactam extract, being preceded by addition of the distillative separation, aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution in an amount of from 0 to 10 mmol/kg of caprolactam, d) addition of 0 to 30 mmol of alkali metal hydroxide/kg of caprolactam to the water-containing lactam extract from step c), e) distillative removal of water from the water-containing lactam extract treated with alkali metal hydroxide from step d), f) freeing the caprolactam from step e) from by-products lower- and higher-boiling than caprolactam by distillation, with addition in steps c) and d) together of at least 1.5 mmol of alkali metal hydroxide/kg of caprolactam.