A process for desensitizing a hypersensitive, high activity reforming catalyst for suppression of hydrogenolysis which is particularly acute during the early portion of the period that the catalyst is placed on stream, i.e., at the startup of a reactor. The catalyst is constituted of a composite which includes a Group VIII noble metal hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component, notably platinum, and iridium or rhenium, or both, selenium, and sulfurous acid or sulfuric acid, or both. Hydrogenolysis is suppressed by use of the catalyst during reforming.