The present invention relates to a process for stripping hydrocarbons from a catalyst, comprising the step of contacting the catalyst with steam at stripping conditions, wherein the catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a structure type of MWW, the steam comprises at least 90 wt. % vapor phase H.sub.2O, the stripping conditions comprise a temperature range from about 100.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., a pressure less than 310 kpa-a, and a WHSV range from about 0.01 to about 100 hr.sup.-1.