The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst comprising at least one first catalyst zone located towards the gas inlet, a second catalyst zone located closer to the gas outlet and a third catalyst zone located even closer to or at the gas outlet for the preparation of phthalic anhydride by gas-phase oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene, with the catalyst zones preferably each having an active composition comprising TiO2, characterized in that the catalyst activity of the first catalyst zone is higher than the catalyst activity of the second catalyst zone. Furthermore, a preferred process for the preparation of phthalic anhydride is described.