A process for preparing ethylamines, butylamines and mixed ethyl/butylamines comprising the following steps: (i) Hydroamination of butadiene and ethylene by means of a monoalkylamine and/or a dialkylamine in which alkyl=ethyl and/or butyl in the presence of an alkali metal amide as catalyst, (ii) isomerization of the amines obtained in the hydroamination (i), if appropriate under the following conditions: (iia) prior fractionation into particular fractions and/or (iib) isomerization under hydrogenating conditions and/or (iic) isomerization in the presence of ammonia, (iii) fractionation of the resulting product mixture with isolation of the desired product amines and recycle of the amines suitable as starting material to step (i).