The present invention provides a process for treating shaped catalyst bodies which has the following steps: a) providing finished shaped catalyst bodies, b) impregnating the finished shaped catalyst bodies with a peptizing auxiliary in an amount of liquid which does not exceed the theoretical water absorption of the shaped catalyst bodies, c) thermal treating the impregnated shaped catalyst bodies at from 50° C. to 250° C. and d) calcinating the thermally treated shaped catalyst bodies at from 250° C. to 600° C. A shaped catalyst body which has increased mechanical strength and can be produced by the process of the invention is also provided. The present invention relates to the use of the shaped catalyst bodies of the invention for preparing amines and also in fixed-bed reactors or fluidized-bed reactors and to a chemical synthesis process in the presence of shaped catalyst bodies according to the present invention.