Abstract: An improved process for the production of aliphatic nitriles having two to six carbon atoms by the reaction of an aliphatic carboxylic acid with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst followed by effluent distillation. The improvement lies in the addition of a portion of the aliphatic carboxylic acid after the reactor but before distillation whereby ammonium carboxylate formed in the reaction and dissociated by distillation is reformed to the carboxylate thus preventing the escape of dissociated ammonia and whereby the aliphatic carboxylic acid portion is recycled to the reaction.