A hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed which extends the useful life of a regenerable zeolite-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. In one aspect of this process, a hydrocarbon feed containing fluorides is passed through a fluoride removal system which reduces the fluoride concentration of the feed to below 100 ppb. The hydrocarbon feed containing less than 100 ppb fluorine is then converted over a regenerable zeolite-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. The zeolite-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst is regenerated with an oxygen-containing gas stream as necessary to burn off carbonaceous deposits on the catalyst so as to return the zeolite catalyst to a high level of activity.