A process is described for preparing sorbitol by catalytic hydrogenation of a monosaccharide forming sorbitol on hydrogenation in the liquid phase, which comprises the catalyst being obtainable by:

• i) single or multiple treatment of an amorphous silicon dioxide based support material with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low-molecular-weight ruthenium compound and subsequent drying of the treated support material at below 200 C.,
• ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) with hydrogen at from 100 to 350 C.,

  step ii) being carried out immediately after step i).