Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a polyethylene multifilament yarn comprising the steps of a) spinning multiple filaments from a solution comprising between 0.5 and 30 mass % of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in a solvent; b) cooling the filament obtained to form gel filaments; c) removing at least partly the solvent from the gel filaments; d) drawing the filaments in at least one drawing step before, during or after removing the solvent, wherein the solution of step a) further comprises between 0.1 and 7 mass % of a sorbitol derivative and at step d) the filaments are drawn with a draw ratio of more than 15 to a strength of at least 1 GPa. The invention further relates to a high performance polyethylene multifilament yarn having a strength of at least 1 GPa, wherein the yarn comprises between 0.1 and 5 mass % of a sorbitol derivative.