A process for producing acidic ionic liquid catalyst having enhanced activity comprising combining fresh acidic ionic liquid catalyst, a metal and a Broensted acid in a reaction zone for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the ionic liquid catalyst is disclosed. A process for producing acidic ionic liquid catalyst having enhanced activity comprising the steps of combining fresh ionic liquid catalyst, a metal and HCl in a reaction zone for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the fresh ionic liquid catalyst; removing reaction product from the reaction zone and recovering at least a portion of the treated ionic liquid catalyst is also disclosed.