A process for preparing an ethylene polymer in a suspension polymerization including the steps of separating the formed suspension of ethylene polymer particles in a solid-liquid separator into wet ethylene polymer particles and mother liquor, transferring a part of the mother liquor into a work-up section including an evaporator for producing a wax-depleted portion of the mother liquor, a diluent distillation unit for producing isolated diluent from the wax-depleted portion of the mother liquor, and a wax removal unit operated by direct steam distillation for producing a gaseous hydrocarbon/steam mixture which is condensed and then separated into an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase, wherein a first part of the hydrocarbon phase is transferred to the diluent distillation unit without passing the evaporator for producing the wax-depleted portion of the mother liquor.