The invention relates to a process for preparing aldehydes having five carbon atoms, in which an input mixture containing 10% by weight to 50% by weight of linear butenes and less than 5% by weight of 1-butene is hydroformylated with synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst system comprising rhodium and at least one bisphosphite ligand, wherein the hydroformylation is effected in a reactor from which, over an operating period, a cycle gas containing at least a portion of the products and unconverted reactants from the hydroformylation is continuously drawn off and partly condensed, and uncondensed components of the cycle gas are recycled into the reactor, and wherein, after the operating period has expired, the hydroformylation is stopped, the reactor is freed of reaction residues and the hydroformylation is restarted. It is based on the problem of making such a process more economically viable. The problem is solved by using a bisphosphite of the formula (1) and/or (2) as ligand, extending the operating period to more than 8000 h, and not separating solid reaction residues out of the reactor during the course of the operating period.