Carbonyl halides of the general formula I ##STR1## where R is an organic radical of more than 7 carbon atoms and X is chlorine or bromine, are prepared by reacting carboxylic acids of the general formula II ##STR2## where R has the abovementioned meaning, with phosphorus chlorides or bromides by treating these reaction mixtures with carboxamide/hydrochloride or hydrobromide mixtures which are not homogeneously miscible with the carbonyl halides I and then separating off the carboxamide hydrochloride or hydrobromide phase.