A method for pretreatment of a palladium-gold catalyst useful in the synthesis of vinyl acetate. A virgin catalyst, following reduction to the metallic palladium and gold, is first heated at elevated temperatures in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as air. The oxidizing agent is withdrawn and an inert gas such as nitrogen is introduced. The catalyst is heated against at a temperature up to 500.degree. C. in the presence of a reducing agent such as hydrogen or ethylene. Improvement in selectivity and yield are obtained.