Acrolein and/or acrylic acid are prepared from propane and/or propene by a process comprising the following steps: (a) separation of propane and/or propene from a propane- and/or propene-containing gas mixture by absorption in an absorbent, (b) separation of the propane and/or propene from the absorbent to give a gas B and (c) use of the gas B obtained in stage (b) for an oxidation of propane and/or propene to acrolein and/or acrylic acid, no heterogeneously catalyzed dehydrogenation of propane without supply of oxygen being carried out between steps (b) and (c).