For the preparation of 2-cyanoacetoxypropionic esters, a mixture of lactic ester and cyanoacetic ester is introduced, an alkali metal alcoholate is added as catalyst and the mixture is heated while the alcohol eliminated during the course of the reaction is distilled off. The course of the reaction is followed by means of gas chromatographic analysis and the reaction is terminated prior to eliminating the theoretical amount of alcohol by destroying the catalyst by acidification. The reaction mixture is worked up by distillation and the product easily separated from the reaction mass due to the substantial absence of high boiling components.