In a continuous gas-phase polymerization process for preparing ethylene and propene homopolymers and copolymers, in which ethylene, propene or a mixture of ethylene or propene and C3-C8-&agr;-monoolefins is polymerized in the polymerization zone of a gas-phase polymerization reactor at from 30 to 125° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 100 bar in the gas phase in a bed of finely divided polymer in the presence of a catalyst, where the reactor gas is circulated to remove the heat of polymerization, polymer deposits in the circulating gas line are prevented by metering a catalyst poison having a boiling point above the maximum temperature within the circulating gas line into this circulating gas line in at most such an amount that it does not significantly impair the productivity of the catalyst in the reactor.